Operation Hearts and Palates: our Coast team heads south

Fourteen participants in the Sunshine Coast Council-led Seasons of the Sun initiative will be capturing the tastebuds and culinary imaginations of Brisbane food-lovers at the 2011 Brisbane Good Food and Wine Show over this coming weekend.

Seasons of the Sun represents the best of what we have to offer here on the Coast in terms of quality, fresh, locally-grown food, along with niche businesses which create all the special sauces and condiments to make a meal unique.

The Good Food and Wine Show will be the second major Brisbane food event at which Seasons of the Sun has been represented this year; the last time, in July, 24 Seasons participants enjoyed 10-deep queues of attendees to buy our increasingly famous products.

"The Sunshine Coast’s reputation for quality food production and enhancement is growing daily, and if last July’s success at the Regional Flavours event at South Bank is anything to measure by, Brisbane will again welcome us with open arms," Economic Development and Entrepreneurship portfolio councillor Lew Brennan, said.

"We are quickly becoming one of the premier food and beverage destinations in the nation, and our food and beverage producers heading for Brisbane this weekend will be doing us proud."

Cr Brennan said early findings from council’s recent Rural Futures feedback survey showed strong support for maintaining a vibrant hinterland economy based on sustainable agriculture.

Seasons of the Sun chair, Alexina Johnson, said all participants, while working hard to further the prospects of their individual businesses, also recognised the importance of marketing the Sunshine Coast brand of clean food production and sustainability at the same time.

"Participants include farmers, growers, value-adding producers and packagers - all of whom work with each other to market both their own products and the Coast as a destination for year-round high-quality produce," she said.

The Brisbane Good Food and Wine Show is being held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. If you’re in town, make a visit and support our crew.