It’s ‘Region of Origin’ at South Bank

Brisbane foodies were bowled over at last year’s Regional Flavours Food and Wine weekend at South Bank – not least due to an invading army of Sunshine Coast growers, producers and distributors.

Representing the Sunshine Coast’s cream of food and beverage production under Sunshine Coast Council’s Seasons of the Sun banner, 24 mainly small businesses sold out of stock on the first day of the two-day event – and this year, 29 will go back to do it all again.

Economic Development portfolio co-holder Councillor Stephen Robinson said the Sunshine Coast was no ordinary place when it came to both food and wine production.

"We have the largest range of food grown here year-round, and we also have amazing value-adding businesses – helping them all is one of the many aims of council in its bid to diversify our local economy and ensure its sustainability," he said.

"Last year at Regional Flavours, the queues were 10-deep for products like Maleny Dairies, Noosa Reds Tomatoes and Montville Coffee.

"All 24 members were located in the one part of the site so visitors got a collective experience of what the Coast can offer.

"It looks like it will be even bigger this year – so look out, Brisbane and other regions: we’re coming back."

Seasons of the Sun chair Alexina Johnson said the 2011 Regional Flavours event raised the profile of the Sunshine Coast food and beverage industry by a factor of hundreds.

"South Bank’s a perfect location and experience for our members to showcase their products to an audience outside the immediate region but not far away," she said.

"We had one of the biggest contingents last year and expect the word will have gone round to other regions to beef their presence up.

"No problem – we’re ready for them."

The 2012 Regional Flavours event takes place on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 July at Brisbane’s South Bank. Visit www.regionalflavours.com.au for more information – and support our Seasons members.