The Scenic Rim is one of Australia’s premier food bowls, and agriculture is the region’s single biggest industry, shaping its identity and, together with tourism, contributing over $600 million to the local economy.
Here, Eat Local is not just a slogan, it is a passionate and energetic movement that weaves its way through a range of initiatives that attract visitors, build pride with locals, provide sales avenues, celebrate farmers and makers, and strengthen the region’s reputation.
These initiatives include:
- the delivery of an annual, month-long festival, Scenic Rim Eat Local Month, which features more than 130 individual events (long table lunches, degustation dinners, workshops, meet-the-maker events) delivered in partnership with industry and brings thousands of visitors to the region
- An accreditation program, Eat Local Scenic Rim, that helps visitors and locals find, taste, buy and connect with authentically local food and drinks 365 days a year, not just during Eat Local Month
- A farm-to-front-door, year-round provedore and delivery service, Scenic Rim Farm Box, that sources a wide range of in-season products from more than 50 local farmers and producers
- A bi-annual Farm Gate Trail that enables visitors to undertake the ultimate foodie road trip, when as many as 30 local farmers, growers, producers, winemakers, brewers, distillers and flavour-makers throw open their gates for a day and celebrate where food comes from
- Scenic Rim Food Ambassadors, over a dozen high profile Queensland chefs who promote the region’s provenance through their own networks and venues, conduct their own special events showcasing local produce, and inject foodie credibility into the Scenic Rim brand
- Year-round educational, immersive and DIY experiences, such as hands-on farm stays and farm visits; winery, brewery and taste discovery tours; immersive animal experiences; cooking schools and commercial farm experiences
- An ‘always on’ public relations and marketing campaign and social media activation, that highlights the region’s food credentials and result in consistent public exposure and awareness
- Capability development workshops and mentoring programs for operators that highlight the opportunities in agritourism and support skills growth and business optimisation
- Nurturing and support for an industry-led local tourism organisation, Destination Scenic Rim, that has over 150 members and pursues a range of initiatives including a strong focus on agritourism as a key pillar
