Expensive Mangos – for a Good Cause
Susan Lorenti from the Clayfield Markets was named Mango Queen when she purchase tray of 12 mangoes for $45,000 at this year’s mango auction at the Brisbane Markets.
Markets spokeswoman Ann Marie Johansen says today’s event raised about $70,000 for two Queensland charities; Life Education Queensland and Red Kite.
Source: abc.net.au
Publication date: 10/8/2009
Since its launch in 2004, the prestigious Vogue Entertaining + Travel Produce Awards has been uncovering and celebrating Australia’s finest producers and suppliers.
The awards acknowledge those who are committed to quality and consistency in what they grow and create, and food lovers who promote small producers through restaurants, providores and markets. Now bigger than ever, the 2010 Vogue Entertaining + Travel Produce Awards are open for nominations.
Nominate your favourite Australian producer and win a prize worth over $5,000
Nominate your favourite producers for the 2010 Vogue Entertaining + Travel Produce Awards and win a two-night package for two, worth over $5,000, at luxury Queensland resort Qualia. For more information and to nominate, see categories below, simply email produce@vogueentertaining.com.au
For the full list of winners and finalists of the 2009 Vogue Entertaining + Travel Produce Awards, download this PDF.
Source: Vogue Entertaining + Travel – August 2009
German farmers; Peter and Paul Hof were operating a service delivering milk to their customers. Finding this too time-consuming, they began encouraging customers to collect the milk from fridges on their farm, which proved successful and inspired them to use vending machines as a more versatile solution. The result of collaboration between the farm and vending manufacturer Stuewer, the specially designed Regiomat machines currently sell fresh milk, eggs, butter, cheese, potatoes and sausage in thirteen German towns and communities.
The Regiomat machines can be placed outdoors 365 days a year as long as they’re under a roof (some have even been placed alongside hiking trails in Switzerland), effectively giving locals a 24-hour farmers’ market and farmers a lot more free time. By cutting out the middleman, this system also offers potential savings over retail stores.
If you understand the german language check out the websites: www.stuewer.de/automaten/regiomat/index.htm and http://www.peter-paul-hof.de
A new report recently published by the French Agency for Food Safety (AFSSA) has found that organic foods are more nutritious and contain less pesticides and nitrates, which have been linked to a range of health problems including diabetes and Alzheimer’s.
A nutritionist for the Biological Farmers of Australia, Shane Heaton said the research is a “thorough and critical evaluation of the nutritional quality of organic food, and has found organic foods have higher levels of minerals and antioxidants as well as a raft of other benefits”.
“Contrary to another recently released review commissioned by the UK Food Standards Agency and widely reported in the media as showing organic food have no significant benefits over non-organic food.”
“This review does the question justice by comparing not just a handful of nutrients but also dry matter content, antioxidant content, pesticide levels, and nitrate content. Organic wins out over ordinary food in every respect.”
A full scientific report can be found at www.swroc.cfans.umn.edu/organic/ASD_Lairon_2009.pdf
Food & Hotel Asia 2010 (FHA2010)
Singapore 20-23 April 2010
Since its debut in 1978, FHA (Food&HotelAsia) has always been the premier sourcing platform for thousands of food and hospitality trade buyers in Asia. With a spectacular showcase of the latest products, services and technologies from market leaders, FHA addresses the procurement needs of trade buyers and provides an abundance of networking opportunities for Asia’s food and hospitality industry.
With an expansion into 82,000sqm of exhibiting space, the 17th edition of FHA2010 certainly lives up to its reputation as Asia’s largest international food and hospitality trade event. Strictly for trade visitors only, FHA2010 will gather an estimated 2,800 international exhibiting companies from about 70 countries / regions. To be held from 20 – 23 April 2010, FHA2010 will also have a host of exciting culinary competitions and insightful conferences to enhance the entire experience!
FHA2010 – An All-Encompassing Food & Hospitality Trade Event
FHA2010 encompasses specialised events – FoodAsia, HotelAsia, Bakery&Pastry, HospitalityStyleAsia and HospitalityTechnology all under one roof! Each event has its own dedicated area within the exhibition halls that will cater to the specific industry sectors. Click on the icons below to find out more about each of the specialised events!
FHA’s impressive turnout of 52,901 (41% overseas) trade attendees in 2008 once again affirmed the biennial event’s reputation as THE sourcing ground for the region’s food and hospitality industry.
URL: http://www.foodnhotelasia.com
31 August 2009 DAFF09/309B
The Rudd Government is strengthening its push to lure more tourists to regional areas by promoting the fresh fruit and vegetables, cheeses, nuts and other produce for sale at the farm-gate.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke launched an initial study in March, to look at what drives food tourism and how the industry could grow.
After a strong industry response, the Bureau of Rural Sciences study will be expanded to investigate particular businesses and regions in more detail.
Food tourism, or agri-tourism, can include food and wine trails, farm stays and farmers’ markets, outback adventures, working holidays on farms, conservation volunteering and processing plant tours.
It allows farmers to diversify their income and promote their fresh produce by selling directly at the farm-gate or local markets.
Food tourism is already a key industry in many regional economies such as the Tamar Valley in Tasmania; the Harvest Highway in Western Australia; Orange and the Northern Rivers in NSW and Gippsland in Victoria.
The expansion of the project will see further studies carried out in these regions following the initial work and, for the first time, the Tropical North region in Queensland.
Studies have shown that food tourism can generate one-fifth of farmers’ income.
According to the International Visitor Survey 2008 and National Visitor Survey 2008, half of all tourism spending is outside of our capital cities, worth $38.9 billion.
Mr Burke said farmers were constantly looking for ways to diversify their businesses, particularly in the face of challenges such as climate change.
“Food is a big part of family holidays for Australians and overseas visitors and we have the best produce to offer as they drive through the regions,” Mr Burke said.
“Food tourism tells everyone you don’t have to have an Australian holiday on a beach – you can have a holiday on a plate.”
The project, funded under Australia’s Farming Future, is expected to be completed early in 2010.
http://www.maff.gov.au/media/media_releases/2009/august/stronger_push_to_attract_tourists_to_the_farm-gate
A Great Day on the Tablelands
When: Sunday, 18 October 2009
Time: 10am – 5pm
Where: Chinese Temple Grounds, Herberton Road Atherton
Atherton The Tastes of the Tableland Festival in Atherton on the 18th October 2009 will be an event not to be missed. This event will showcase the best wines, coffees, cheeses, chocolates and other local produce that this wonderful region produces.
This festival will also be a great opportunity to sample and purchase some of the varied and unique products that are produced on the Tablelands.
If you want to while away a few hours on a lazy Sunday afternoon come and enjoy the entertainment provided for the day.
Enjoy lunch (which you can purchase from the varied menus provided from our local eateries and clubs) and sit at a table under the marquees or relax on a hay bale under the shady trees with a glass or two of our local wine. The site is licensed.
As well as fashions on the stage we will be hoping to see wonderful fashions on those that attend as there will be prizes for best fashions of the day. There will also be activities for the children so it will be great day for the whole family.
So we hope to see you there !
for more information taste-of-the-tablelands
 Last week Belinda Down (DEEDI) and I visited Fine Food Australia & Hotel Australia at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre.  The exhibition was full of ideas, new trends and great samples of packaging and labelling.
This is the largest food exhibition in the southern hemisphere and brings together over 250 buyers and decision makers from food, drink and equipment from around the world.
Exhibitors have the unique opportunity to interact with thousands of retail and foodservice buyers face to face. Itâs a proven way to generate new business.
Among the buyers Austrade has attracted to sample Australiaâs food offerings at the prestigious food trade show come from New Zealand, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and the Middle East.
With Fine Food Queensland exhibition being held in Brisbane in March 2010, itâs a must for anyone in the food industry to (at least) attend to discover new trends and ideas. Exhibiting your product will:-
1. Generate genuine sales leads
2. Discover NEW buyers
3. Launch new products
4. Meet decision makers face to face
5. Stay close to your existing customers
6. Raise your profile
7. Build brand loyalty
8. Tap into export markets
9. Identify new distributors
10. Stay ahead of your opposition
If you work in the retail, foodservice or hospitality industry, then you simply cannot afford to miss Fine Food & Hospitality Queensland. It only takes one visit to discover hundreds of new ideas that could change the way you do business
Fine Food Queensland runs from Sunday 21st March until Tuesday 23st March 2010 at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre in Southbank, Brisbane
Fine Food Queensland information
If you are interested in sharing an exhibition site with other food from the region, contact Nola Craig at info@australiantropicalfoods.com or phone 0409 593958
Gulfood 2010 is the central food, non-alcoholic beverage and hotel and equipment event hub servicing the Arab states of the Gulf (Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates) as well as the greater Middle-east region and also attracting quality visitors from Europe, Asia and other parts of the world.
The Australian pavilion is traditionally advance booked at the end of each event, making it difficult for new companies to be represented under the Australian banner at this quality event.
Austrade Dubai is promoting a virtual booth for Australian companies who are not in position to travel to Gulfood for the February 2010 event. This booth will cater for 10 -12 pre-qualified Australian companies in the speciality gourmet, organic and Halal certified food sectors – for more information gulf-food-event-flyer-2010_final
For all enquiries please contact Stuart Castricum, Manager Export Advisers – Victoria, Austrade
P.O.BOX 310 South Melbourne MDC Vic 3205 Ph 61 3 9648 3206 Fx 61 3 9648 3100 Mob 0437 106 045
‘Tropical Kitchens’ – A 13 episode television program was filmed recently in the region featuring Spanish celebrity chef Miguel Maestre and showcasing the Tropical North Queenslands exotic food produce.
After previous filming of part of the cooking show Boys’ Weekend with Masterchef Australia’s Gary Mehigan, Miguel fell in love with Cairns and decided to come back to film Tropical Kitchens.
Tropical fruit, vegetable, seafood bought from Rusty’s Markets, the Edge Greengrocer and other regional suppliers made up the ingredients for 39 recipes chosen by Miguel.
Filming was done at the Esplanade Lagoon, the Botanic Gardens, the Cairns Amateurs, Palm Cove, Port Douglas, the Daintree, the Great Barrier Reef, Green Island, the Tableland, Mission Beach and Paronella Park.