EAT LOCAL FROM HOME WITH SCENIC RIM FARM BOX

LOCKDOWN measures have put the bite on food festivals and country daytrips, however that hasn’t stopped the Scenic Rim farming community.

A group of local producers, supported by the Scenic Rim Regional Council, have launched Scenic Rim Farm Box, a new ‘farm to you’ home delivery business which will deliver the region’s best produce, products, and locally produced wine and beer to customers in Brisbane and beyond – making it easy to eat local every week.

Scenic Rim Farm Box is designed to help fill the Scenic Rim Eat Local Week gap caused by the COVID-19 crisis. Chair of the Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) Mayor Greg Christensen said the service would deliver farm fresh, seasonal, quality produce and products grown or made in the Scenic Rim.

He said it delivered on Council's approved economic stimulus package announced at a Special Council Meeting held on 26 March 2020, to help minimise the impact of COVID-19 on the Scenic Rim's economy.

“Council has committed to work with the region's agricultural sector to develop a broader 'Scenic Rim Providore' sales, logistics and delivery solution to open up growth opportunities,” he said.

“Scenic Rim Farm Box will connect consumers and visitors with the people and produce of the Scenic Rim from the safety and comfort of their own homes.

“While sadly we cannot have Scenic Rim Eat Local Week in its usual format this year, we can have a virtual Eat Local Week instead, via Scenic Rim Farm Box.

“Scenic Rim Farm Box heroes and celebrates our producers, our produce, our chefs and ambassadors and our community.”

Scenic Rim Farm Box, launched on 17 April 2020, will deliver the best of the Scenic Rim to households in Brisbane and beyond. The first boxes are expected to be delivered in early May, filled to the brim with fresh, seasonal goods straight from Scenic Rim producers. 

Long-term Eat Local Week sponsors and supporters, Kalfresh Vegetables, have collaborated with Scenic Rim Regional Council to establish the Farm Box concept, which has been a long-held goal of Scenic Rim Eat Local Week.

“When we heard that Eat Local Week could not proceed in 2020, we started thinking about the ways we could still connect city-based consumers with the Scenic Rim’s seasonal produce,” said Kalfresh CEO Richard Gorman.

“As well as being a farming business, we are a packing and logistics business, so we have offered our systems and team to the new Scenic Rim Farm Box enterprise. The concept was ‘If the city can’t come to the Scenic Rim, let’s take the Scenic Rim to them’.

“We have established a new entity and have committed to help get the concept off the ground, quickly. This is a fantastic opportunity for Scenic Rim farmers and producers to put their seasonal products in front of city consumers during a challenging time.

“A number of local produce businesses already have existing systems and infrastructure which we hope to utilise to benefit the region.
“Scenic Rim Regional Council has been very proactive in supporting this idea, which we hope will turn a difficult situation into an opportunity. We look forward to working with an amazing array of producers and businesses well beyond COVID-19 to provide ongoing opportunities for the local ag sector and broader region.”

Chair of LDMG Mayor Christensen said the initiative would help keep jobs in the Scenic Rim and strengthen the region’s connection with consumers.

“As well as helping us through the current COVID-19 situation, in the longer term it strengthens our ability to connect consumers with our produce and products all year round and to connect our region with food service and other businesses,” he said.

“The Eat Local Scenic Rim community is filled with entrepreneurial and forward-thinking people, and we proudly acknowledge all the ways so many businesses are already pivoting to survive and thrive through these times.

“Scenic Rim Farm Box builds on a stoic spirit our farmers have carried for generations, of being able to adapt to rise to the many challenges and changes our region has faced over the decades.

“This is just one more great way we can all collaborate to share our region with customers, and we can’t wait to have everyone along on the journey.”

Towri Sheep Cheeses Head of Marketing and Distribution Dallas Davidson said the initiative would make the world of difference to small family-run businesses like Towri.

“It can be a challenge logistically for us smaller food producers to get our products to consumers and businesses outside the Scenic Rim, so this opportunity via Scenic Rim Farm Box is going to be a game changer for us,” she said.

“This solution will enable us to consistently receive and despatch orders to Brisbane as part of a bigger group, and to really connect with our customers all to the time.” 

Suppliers to Scenic Rim Farm Box must be Eat Local Scenic Rim Accredited Locavores or be able to meet the same criteria. To be eligible, suppliers must also meet food safety, capability and quality requirements as assessed by Scenic Rim Farm Box.

To submit an expression of interest to be a supplier, email info@scenicrimfarmbox.com.au

Customers can immediately sign up and be the first to know when the Scenic Rim Farm Box online shop goes live by visiting www.scenicrimfarmbox.com.au