Wendouree MP Juliana Addison and Buninyong MP Michaela Settle announced on Friday $50,000 funding for Eat, Drink, West.

The funding will fast track and scale the development of the Your Local Box initiative, a range of produce boxes packed with western region produce that can be purchased online for pick up or delivery.

Eat Drink West director Kate Davis said the desire for locally and sustainably sourced food was stronger than it had ever been.

"We are not just about providing produce boxes. We want people to understand where the produce comes from, the stories behind it and really connect," she said.

READ MORE: Will COVID-19 change the way we purchase food?

Eat Drink West launched in September as a directory of western region producers to make it easier for chefs and consumers to source products locally.

A 'Meet the Maker' event was planned to provide a place for chefs to meet with producers in the one space, but had to be cancelled due to COVID-19.

Ms Davis said Eat Drink West had pivoted its focus from a business to business platform to a creating links between producers and consumers during the coronavirus pandemic.

"Producers started calling saying they didn't know what to do, they had produce and cafes and restaurants had reduced orders," she said.

"That is when we starting changing really quickly."

Eat Drink West teamed up with Housey Housey owner Tim Matthews and his team of event staff who were out of work to put together local produce boxes in April.

Eat Drink West's online shop currently offers five options of Your Local Boxes with a variety of produce.

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Ms Davis said the state government funding would help expand the offerings on the online shop, connect with more local producers to support sales of their products and a develop long-term plan to offer the boxes in boutique supermarkets.

She said the initiative had already created new work for four or five Housey Housey staff and she expected more jobs to be created in delivery, packing, ordering and sourcing as the project grows.

"I truly hope we do become a bigger hub for western produce and we have lots of people working for us," Ms Davis said.

Mr Matthews said many people had purchased local produce boxes as a gift or care package for loved ones.

Ms Addison said the Eat Drink West project would help producers work towards a sustainable economic recovery.

Ms Settle said it was a big win for everyone: "it's good for our farmers and it's good for us".

Visit eatdrinkwest.com.au/ for more.

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