Connecting with local "heroes"

Published 6:07am 15 January 2025

Words by Nick Crockford

Registrations are open for local growers and hospitality professionals to connect at a free event in Samford Valley next month.

Harvest to Hospitality will be held at the Loop Growers Barn in Draper on February 10, from 3-6pm, to a celebrate the region’s food scene.

Hosted by the Food and Agribusiness Network (FAN) and City of Moreton Bay, it will focus on quality, sustainability and the economic benefits of supporting regional producers.

Producers from Moreton Bay and across South-East Queensland will use Harvest to Hospitality showcase products, offer samples and insights into production processes.

Hospitality professionals can explore local sourcing, meet producers, get inspiration for menus and see the value of food origin.

Chef and sustainability advocate Alastair McLeod, who will deliver a keynote address, said: "The food a chef cooks should have a clear sense of seasonality and provenance.

“Get this snapshot, this essence, right on the plate and it will be the best food your customers have every enjoyed.

“Only by connecting with your local agrarian heroes can this be achieved.”

Mr McLeod said his mission is “to consider from where and by whom the ingredients I use are grown. I believe this is the spirit of our age.

“At the heart of this is an appreciation for caring for the earth and giving greater thought to the nutritional density of what I feed people.

“I hope this fosters inspiration and a greater empathy for those who work the land.”

He said the City of Moreton Bay and FAN are providing leadership to create a clear line between the region’s farming past, present and future.

“It’s an opportunity for us to advocate primary producers that are growing ingredients that are better for our wellbeing and that are simply delicious,” Mr McLeod said.

“I believe there is alignment – customers don’t want effete, contrived food. What they want is to support community and enjoy real food with origin. It falls to us.”

This free event is open to hospitality professionals in Moreton Bay and beyond. Spaces are limited and RSVPs essential.

For more information or to register, visit Harvest to Hospitality link