Archive for the ‘News’ Category

Register for the Gascoyne Food & Beverage Guide

Tuesday, March 9th, 2021

Are you a producer of consumer-ready food or beverage items? Would you like to showcase your product range to a wider audience of buyers and consumers?

Apply now for inclusion in the Gascoyne Food and Beverage Capability Guide. Taking part is free. Each producer will receive a spread featuring their products in the publication, which will be online in a downloadable pdf format.

Participation is simple; just complete the form using the link below and upload photos and logo by Friday 30 April.

Find out more here.

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Perth Celebrity Butcher, Vince Garreffa, visits Gascoyne producers

Sunday, August 23rd, 2020
PERTH’S CELEBRITY BUTCHER, Vince Garreffa, founder of Mondo Meats visits Gascoyne producers.
Vince has worked as a butcher in Australia since 1965 a young man with a vision decided to open his store in 1979. Vince Garreffa was a keen student and had learnt all he could in butchering and sought the challenge of combining his skills and knowledge with operating his own business.
Mondo’s is now in a central location on Beaufort Street in Inglewood, which is 5 minutes from Perth’s CBD. What used to be the Hunsa Factory has undergone extensive renovations into now Australia’s largest and most celebrated gourmet Butcher shop.
Vince and his wife Anna Garreffa visited Carnarvon and hosted by Gascoyne Food Council chairman, Paul Kelly, who showcased some of the many producers in the Gascoyne, including Morels Orchard, P & L Frzop, Borich & Sons, Sweeter Banana, Gascoyne Organic Farm, and Sea Harvest.

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Gascoyne Food Festival is back!

Monday, July 20th, 2020

The Gascoyne Food Festival will once again be delighting visitors to the Gascoyne region with events planned throughout August and September as Western Australians embrace the call from the Premier to Wander out Yonder.

With thousands of Western Australians looking for a Western Australian holiday destination the opportunity for the Gascoyne to attract many first time visitors to the region with the promise of incredible food in breathtaking locations.

The Gascoyne Food Council has reversed the decision made in March to cancel the event, with Tourism WA, the Gascoyne Development Commission and the Shire of Carnarvon reinstating funding to ensure that the events go ahead.

The region’s finest produce will once again be showcased, with Gascoyne Food Festival launching the event program with a Canapes on the Gascoyne, to be held at Bentwaters Plantation on Friday 7 August.

Chef Sophie Budd and Paul Iskov from Fervor are returning to the region to be part of the Canapes on the Gascoyne.

“We are both very excited to be coming back to the region, the Gascoyne Food Festival is a premier event in the WA culinary event calendar, so it’s great to be back in Carnarvon, using the regions finest produce to create a series of canapes to launch the festival program”, said Sophie.

Chairman for the Gascoyne Food Council, Paul Kelly said that the organisation is thrilled to see the line-up of events taking place across the region.

“It’s been a busy few months but we have hit the ground running, and in 2020 taken the opportunity to launch new events into the calendar. Western Australians seeking winter sunshine combined with incredible landscapes and some of the best food on the planet will be amazed at everything the Gascoyne offers and we look forward to welcoming many new visitors to our region.”

Events will take place across the region, commencing in Carnarvon and then leading to satellite events across the region including Exmouth, Dirk Hartog, and Mount Augustus. The Iconic Carnarvon Long Table Lunch held in Carnarvon at Bentwaters Plantation will return on Friday 11 September.

The full event program is set to be announced on Gascoyne Food social media in the coming weeks.

Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:

Minister Alannah MacTiernan announced the return of the Gascoyne Food Festival in Carnarvon on Friday 17 July. Regional Development Minister, Alannah MacTiernan said the Gascoyne Food Festival has been a highlight on the region’s event calendar for a decade, showcasing the wonderful local cuisine and culture – and it is fantastic to see the event back on in 2020”.

“Supporting unique events that attract visitors to WA’s regions is a key focus of the State Government, now more than ever as we head down the road to recovery”, said Minister MacTiernan.

Acting Tourism Minister Simone McGurk:

Acting Tourism Minister, Simone McGurk said the reinstatement of yet another regional tourism event just highlights how important the McGowan Government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has been.

“Culinary tourism is growing in importance for Western Australia, and the Gascoyne Food Festival is a great opportunity to show off the best of the region’s produce”, said Minister McGurk.

The Gascoyne Food Festival is supported by the State Government through Tourism Western Australia’s Regional Events Program and the Gascoyne Development Commission.

Find out more about the 2020 Gascoyne Food Festival here.

Keep updated on Facebook and Instagram.

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2020 Gascoyne Food Festival cancelled – COVID-19

Friday, April 3rd, 2020

The Gascoyne Food Council leadership team has been monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and its spread since it first made news.

The Council is keeping abreast of latest developments and will communicate to our stakeholder groups as information becomes available.   However, the uncertainty around the ability to travel makes it difficult to plan in any certainty for the 2020 event.

The Council has taken the decision to cancel the 2020 Gascoyne Food Festival, the most respectful action in this time of great uncertainty. The Council extends its thanks to our Board, Food Festival planning group, volunteers, producers, contractors, event holders, sponsors and government agencies and the many people who planned on making the Gascoyne their food destination in 2020.  No tickets have been issued for the 2020 events.

The Gascoyne remains a key food bowl for Western Australia. Our pastoral rangelands beef, lamb and goat, world class seafood and fresh fruit and vegetables are more important than ever in the diets of our fellow West Australians as we deal with this Pandemic.

The Committee will use this time to continue to work with our producers, and share their stories of the wonderful food produced in the Gascoyne.

Chair of the Gascoyne Food Council Paul Kelly said “We ask that all West Australians continue to support our local producers, and Buy West Eat Best wherever possible to support West Australian food production, WA jobs and ensuring our Food Security”

“We are committed to continuing with our incredible Gascoyne Food Festival  and plan for a bigger and better event for 2021”

Media Contact
Paul Kelly
Chair
M: 0400995369

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Festival Wows Crowds with World Class Views, Brews & Food

Thursday, September 12th, 2019

The Gascoyne Food Festival pulled out all the stops to deliver another sell-out line up of events to over 2000 guests across the region this year. From gourmet dining experiences in Carnarvon, Dirk Hartog Island, Exmouth and Mount Augustus, to new events at Wooramel River Retreat and Quobba Station, Western Australian chefs are cooking up the best of local produce through August and September. 

Sell out launch events in Carnarvon hosted media, industry, government and tourists and included the Taste of the Gascoyne Sunset BBQ for 260 guests and the iconic Long Table Lunch along the banks of the Gascoyne River for 280 guests. Dirk Hartog Island also welcomed a sell-out crowd to its once-in-a-lifetime Gourmet Island Escape experience. The menu’s showcasing a smorgasbord of the finest food from the region, including seafood, fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs and rangelands meats. 

The Taste of the Gascoyne Sunset BBQ kicked off the culinary events in Carnarvon, with guests enjoying an Asado-style BBQ featuring rangelands goat and lamb as well as local fish and prawns alongside amazing fresh Gascoyne salads and premium Sweeter Bananas. Local business Borich & Sons also got behind the event serving up a family recipe for breskvich peaches. 

The highly anticipated Long Table Lunch at Bentwaters Plantation, MC’d by much-loved TV personality Carmen Braidwood, served an 8 course shared-degustation prepared by a stellar group of Western Australian chefs, including Scott Bridger of Bib & Tucker, Melissa Palinkas of Young George and Chase Weber from the Standard. 

The team of 8 chefs, led by Stuart Laws of Showcase Events WA, prepped mouthwatering dishes including buttermilk Kailis Spanish Mackerel, BBQ Sea Harvest king prawns, Harvey Beef and a huge array of local fruits and vegetables. An arguable favourite was the dessert prepared by Chef Chase Weber called “Comfortable in our Skins”, including Sweeter Bananas, banana skins, Nguyen passionfruit and burnt honey. 

Minister Alannah MacTiernan joined the celebrations in Carnarvon at the Long Table Lunch and in her speech made the welcome announcement of a $1.4 million investment into the Carnarvon Research Centre to support new programs and upgrades for a sustainable, profitable and diverse industry in the Gascoyne. 

“Horticulture is absolutely central to Carnarvon’s economy and identity, and our investment alongside fantastic events like the Gascoyne Food Festival – will help this sector grow and prosper,” said the Minister. 

Popular Perth Chef Scott Bridger was moved by his second visit to the region, “it was an amazing weekend cooking with a bunch of legends for the annual Long Table Lunch, and inspiring to meet the producers that work so hard to bring the amazing Carnarvon produce to Perth,” said Scott. 

 “We can’t understate the impact of this annual festival to our region. In welcoming the broad range of guests from media, government, chefs, tourists and other business people, we provide exposure to our industry for its hard work and create new opportunities. The Ministers announcement of 1.4 million investment into our industry is going to provide an absolutely incredible platform for us to continue to grow and thrive and we are very grateful,” said Gascoyne Food Council spokesperson Doriana Mangili.  

“This years festival is once again the result of an exceptional amount of effort by all involved. The Carnarvon Visitor Centre has become more integral to the planning and delivery of the events which has created some amazing outcomes in showcasing our region. Thank you to everyone who makes this all possible and to all our guests – we hope to see you again,” said Doriana. 

Gascoyne Food Hero

The Long Table Lunch in Carnarvon also provided the perfect opportunity to announce the Gascoyne Hero Award, presented to Farmer Jacks Supermarket’s Founder and Owner, Fred Fairthorne. Fred was honoured for his ongoing commitment to the supporting Gascoyne food through investment, support and advice and through his supermarkets.

The Gascoyne Food Council created the award to recognise its recipients for their incredible commitment and dedication to the region, that has led to better opportunities for the food industry and boosted the profile of the Gascoyne. 

Follow the Gascoyne Food Council on social media to find out the dates for next years festival! 

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Tickets on sale now for 2019 Gascoyne Food Festival!

Sunday, May 26th, 2019

Gourmet travellers being lured north by Food Festival and Fruit Loop Drive Trail 

Tickets & event information: https://www.gascoynefood.com.au/gascoyne-food-events/gff2019/

On Sunday May 26 the Gascoyne Food Council and Carnarvon Visitor Centre launched the Gascoyne Food Festival, Fruit Loop Drive Trail and Carnarvon and Coral Bay Destination Guide to an audience of around 80 industry and media invitees at The Sunshine Harvester Works in Fremantle. The initiatives targeting the state’s 400,000 annual gourmet travellers to hit the road and sample some delicious northern delights. 

Championing top quality produce from the region, the event showcased the Gascoyne’s fresh produce, rangelands goat and Shark Bay seafood with special creations such as Homestead Hampers famous goat pies and Brendan Pang’s Bumpling’s dumplings. There was also a selection of handmade condiments and dried fruits from Carnarvon’s many farm shops available for sampling. 

“The launch was a great opportunity for us to show people in Perth what they can enjoy from the Gascoyne region. Whether it’s supporting local restaurants as part of Buy West Eat Best’s Plating Up WA program, sampling products along our amazing Fruit Loop Drive Trail, or attending an event during the Gascoyne Food Festival, there is something for everyone to enjoy in our sunny town,” says Stephanie Leca, Carnarvon’s Visitor Centre Coordinator. 

MC for the evening, RedFM’s Alana McLean announced that the Gascoyne Food Festival will host its largest line-up yet of events across the region throughout August and September. Locations including Dirk Hartog Island, Exmouth, Mount Augustus and Carnarvon, with new events lined up to give a real taste of the outback at Wooramel River Retreat and Quobba Station. 

Spokesperson for the Gascoyne Food Council, Doriana Mangili said that tickets are expected to sell fast for festival events.  

“This year even more visitors will have the opportunity to sample our beautiful produce, incredible seafood and beef, lamb and goat as well as explore unique tourist attractions.  With landscapes as diverse as the oasis of plantations in Carnarvon, the mighty Gascoyne River, the Ningaloo reef, working Pastoral Stations, the incredible Mount Augustus (the biggest Rock in the world), country race meetings and Western Australia’s most remote surf beach, Gascoyne is the perfect destination,” she said. 

Chef Stuart Laws and partner Phoebe Pun will once again be integral to the festivals’ success through their business, Showcase Events WA.

“We are very proud to be coming back to the region for the third year in a row to continue to develop the festival program and offer something exciting to visitors,” Stuart said. 

“This year we are focusing on bringing great chefs to learn about the region and create amazing dishes that completely honour the quality ingredients that the Gascoyne offers. The event is as much about education as it is about having fun in the sun,” said Stuart. 

The Sunshine Harvester Works: 

The Sunshine Harvester Works is a food and retail incubator on the corner of James and Beach St in Fremantle. Sunshine is focussed on providing a platform for small businesses to grow and ultimately succeed in a very tough industry. In collaboration with the Mantle, Sunshine will look to be an everyday destination for families, food enthusiasts and locals who can experience the labour of peoples passions.

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Gascoyne Pastoralists Welcome Dog Fence Investment

Friday, April 5th, 2019

State Government Approves $986,000 for much-needed exclusion fencing. 

The Gascoyne Region’s $30 million pastoral industry is celebrating a win following a submission to government seeking support for a Carnarvon Rangelends Barrier Fence (CRBF) – a fenced area to protect approximately 805,000 ha of grazing land from wild dogs. 

The application for the grant was approved as part of the co-funded McGowan Government’s Wild Dog program with the pastoralists inside the cell. It follows investment in three other cell fences across the Murchison and Goldfields as part of the Rangelands Cell Fencing Program, co-funded by the State and Federal governments.

The program supports pastoralists in the rangelands to build cell fences to protect sheep and goats, with successful applicants required to contribute a minimum of half the cost of fence construction and undertake ongoing fence maintenance and wild dog control within the cell.

The aim of the project is to return stations within the CRBF to being sustainable small stock enterprises, with capacity to restock around 70,000 sheep and goats. The cell will also contribute towards drought proofing pastoral properties, provide future employment opportunities and reduce personal and social stress while having a positive environmental impact. 

The Minister for Regional Development; Agriculture and Food, Alannah MacTiernan, widely consulted industry prior to signing off on the cell fencing bid. 

According to the official statement the Minister says “Prolonged predation by wild dogs has affected the confidence to restock or invest to grow pastoral businesses and strengthen the pastoral industry across the rangelands.

“Pastoralists in the West Gascoyne are some of the last remaining sheep producers in the rangelands of Western Australia. Completion of the cell fence will allow these producers to rebuild their flocks and create more economic activity in the region.

“Pastoralists inside the Carnarvon Rangelands Barrier Fence estimate this will take livestock production from around 20,000 head up to 70,000 head of sheep, or equivalent mix with cattle and goats.

“These trial cell fencing projects are part of a strategic approach by the McGowan Government in partnership with industry to help small-stock growers deal with wild dog predation.”

Gascoyne Food Council representative and goat farmer Chris Higham said that industry is extremely pleased with the outcome, which will ensure that fence construction, as well as grading, surveying, clearing and labour will be adequately funded. 

“The Minister has shown amazing vision in supporting industry on this issue. The contribution is very meaningful and will greatly improve outcomes for pastoralists, from an animal welfare and a financial point of view,” said Chris.

According to the DPIRD website, stock losses from wild dogs in the rangelands of Western Australia alone are estimated at $25 million per annum and tend to predate on smaller stock such as lambs and goats. The CRBF will open up opportunities, including allowing pastoralists to graze sheep once again, an industry that was decimated by stock losses to the point that is has not been viable to continue. 

To date, control of wild dogs has been the remit of the land holder, however with the impact continuing to escalate, there has been broad recognition of the need for greater coordination and a revision of the State’s plan for wild dog management. A move towards cell fencing, which involves building fencing built around neighboring properties, allows easier removal of dogs and can prevent them from reentering. 

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Win a Gascoyne Food Hamper!

Thursday, November 30th, 2017

How would you like to share some top quality Gascoyne produce with your nearest and dearest this festive season? We are celebrating new season produce from the Gascoyne region, and giving one very lucky Perth resident an amazing hamper valued at $500 filled with fresh Gascoyne Food and heaps of extra Christmas goodies. The competition runs from 1 – 8 December 2017.

The prize will include the freshest produce from Carnarvon including grapes, paw paw, bananas, melons and goat meat. Just In Time Gourmet will  put everything together with some amazing extra treats, to create a hamper fit for a festive feast of epic proportions!

Just click here to enter: Win a Gascoyne Food Hamper

Contest Rules: The winner must be living in the Perth metro area. The prize will be drawn on the 11th December 2017 and delivered by the 20th December 2017. The prize is not transferable for cash. The contents of the hamper will be valued at $500. The contents of the hamper will vary based on produce availability – you will get the freshest produce available from the Gascoyne!

Good luck!

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