On Thursday, 10 September the Minister for Tourism, Stuart Ayres MP (Liberal Party), met with local food producers to announce a $240,000 Destination NSW Funding package.
Food industry group Northern Rivers Food (NRF) will spend the taxpayer money over three years to develop local food provenance and food tourism for the region.
NRF is an industry body representing local food and beverage businesses, from paddock to plate. It has more than 160 members, including iconic food, beverage and tourism enterprises extending across seven local government areas from Grafton, in the Clarence region in the south, to Tweed Heads in the north.
NRF Chair Pam Brook said there is enormous potential to increase food production in the Northern Rivers.
‘This is not just developing the capacity of the sector, but in raising awareness of this region’s amazing food and beverage offerings.’
‘Members of the NRF have businesses that span the entire supply chain including regenerative agriculture growers, food artisans, food manufacturers, restaurants and food retailers, distributors and allied traders who are all working together to facilitate the development, and sustainability of the food and beverage industry of the Northern Rivers region’.
Northern Rivers Food executive officer, Anne Briggs, said, ‘NRF will use the funding to further connect, develop and celebrate its diverse and innovative membership by developing the local provenance of the region.
‘Funding will also assist NRF to build an accessible library for its members to help develop their business skills, content development and resilience for the future’.
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