Scenic Rim Eat Local Week kicks off this weekend, marking the start of a bumper eight-day celebration of farming and fresh regional produce.
Returning for its fourth year, the week-long event is a showcase of the people who produce food, wine and beer in the region.
Scenic Rim Eat Local Week runs from June 28 to July 6 and features a series of free and low-cost activities, including farm tours, producer dinners, cooking classes, cheese making workshops, a carrot field day and an authentic Winter Harvest Festival and tractor pulling competition on Saturday July 5.
This weekend be part of the inaugural Lost World Valley Farmgate Festival on June 28. Farmers and producers throughout the Lost World Valley will be involved. Visit Tommerup’s Dairy, buy produce from a farmgate stall, enjoy the views and a bite to eat at the Wild Lime Cooking School’s pop-up café.
The Tamrookum Robotic Dairy is hosting the first birthday celebrations of its Scenic Rim 4Real Milk on June 28. There will be live music, milk tasting and lots of fund for families.
On Sunday June 29 book a seat for the Brenda Fawdon Literary Tastings Event at the Marks & Gardner Gallery on Tamborine Mountain. Brenda is the proprietor of Mondo Organics Restaurant in Brisbane and a Tamborine Mountain local. She will speak about the benefits of organic, local produce while leading a cooking demonstration. The event includes food tastings.
Also on June 29 is the Zest Fest at Beechmont. Indulge in local food, music and some great children’s activities at this relaxed community event. Peter Scott from ABC Coast FM will be broadcasting live from the event.
Don’t miss Eat Local Week’s signature event, the Winter Harvest Festival on Saturday July 5 at the Aratula Community Sports Complex. This authentic food and wine festival will feature food stalls, hot and cold food, live music, children’s activities, cooking demonstrations by Alastair McLeod and the Kalbar Community Bank Tractor Pulling Competition.
Go to www.eatlocalweek.com.au to download the full schedule of events.
Mayor Cr John Brent, who is a third generation vegetable farmer, says as well as raising awareness of how fresh food is produced Eat Local Week is about highlighting the benefits of sourcing in-season food close to the source.
“Agriculture and tourism contribute $402-million to the regional economy and Eat Local Week is a celebration of the people whose hard work makes that possible,” says Cr Brent.
“Eat Local Week asks visitors and Scenic Rim locals to consider their food and wine choices and recognise the vast array of products available on their doorstep.
“Eat Local Week is a chance to meet the farmers, taste the food, and feast from the Scenic Rim’s smorgasbord of fresh produce.”
Eat Local Week and the Winter Harvest Festival are supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland as part of a growing calendar of sporting, cultural and regional events throughout the state.