Collaborations that are connecting western region producers direct to consumers during the coronavirus pandemic could fundamentally change the way regional economies work, city leaders say.
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Eat, Drink, West launched Your Local Box on Tuesday, a box packed with fresh produce sourced from western Victoria's paddocks, orchards and farms.
The produce box can be purchased online and is available for delivery of pick up from Housey Housey in Ballarat.
Eat, Drink, West founder Kate Davis said she had worked to support restaurants and cafes with their new delivery and take away models and found producers needed a new way to connect to consumers too as most of their supply to restaurants had ceased.
This notion of producing, sourcing and then consuming local produce is going to be the major winner out of all of this.
- Michael Poulton, Committee for Ballarat
She said she worked to bring the idea of a local produce box to fruition after hearing from consumers they had a desire to eat regional produce.
"People are not going out. People don't want to go to the supermarket. We have these quantities to be able to provide for people who need food," Ms Davis said.
"This is a way to support our producers to get their nutritious, fresh, wholesome seasonal produce to the consumers and on the other side a way to help consumers within our community access this food."
The Your Local Boxes includes produce from Blk 454 Chem Free Seasonal Veg, Mushroom Connection, Millbrook Free Range Eggs, 1816 Bakehouse, Inglenook Dairy, Salt Kitchen Charcuterie and John Harbour Quality Butcher.
Blk 454 Chem Free Produce grower Jason Waller said more people were buying his produce now than before the pandemic.
"When this started four weeks ago, overnight I had about 15 box orders and the farm shop that weekend went crazy," he said.
"I initially thought the surge in my business at the farm shop was people who already went to markets and were looking for those outlets. But then I realised very quickly it was people looking for food and trying to avoid the supermarkets where there is masses of people.
"I think people have realised the benefits."
Mr Waller said people were creatures of habit and if the pandemic changed our way of life long enough, they would stick to those habits.
"From a very young age I despised supermarkets," he said.
"I remember my dad walking me through and saying this is how much the grower gets and how much the supermarket gets....Supermarkets have a lot to answer for in that.
"I certainly hope this is one positive that comes from it, people going to the bakery, going to the greengrocers, going to the butcher shop.
"That is fabulous. That is supporting the people in the town, the locals that support the residents of the town. Without these people you have to go to big towns to get your food.
"If this somewhat brings back local, which I have long promoted, maybe it is the thing we need."
Committee for Ballarat chief executive Michael Poulton said the produce box offering could redefine the way we purchase food.
"I am really optimistic this will set in train a regional economy that is something we haven't seen in our generation before," he said.
"This notion of producing, sourcing and then consuming local produce is going to be the major winner out of all of this.
"It is this ability for us now to look locally, to produce locally, to know the great quality of goods that are available locally, and I think this is a sustainable model.
"I think this will fundamentally change the way regional economies can work. From a Committee of Ballarat perspective that is so exciting, to see the potential this can bring about from a macro perspective."
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Mr Poulton said it had been a great collaboration of producers, Regional Development Victoria, Committee for Ballarat, Commerce Ballarat, Kate Davis and other committed individuals to make the logistics happen.
"That has been the thing that has been the best take out of this, that we can find a different way of doing things, a different way of connecting and working together," he said.
Visit eatdrinkwest.com.au/shop/ to purchase the produce box from Monday to Friday. It will be unavailable during Easter.
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Rochelle Kirkham
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
