Far North produce on the menu for French Ambassador
CityLife BUSINESS
Regional Development Australia
Far North produce on the menu for French Ambassador
Sonja Johnson
: (07) 4041 1729
: info@rdatropicalnorth.org.au
Chief Executive Officer
Regional Development Australia
Tropical North (RDA)
Tropical North Queensland tuna, papaya and cacao were on the menu for France’s Ambassador to Australia when he toured the region in June looking for export and investment opportunities in agriculture and food production.
Regional Development Australia Tropical North invited The Hon Mr Jean-Pierre Thébault to visit farms and food manufacturers on a tour of the Cassowary Coast, Atherton Tablelands, Mareeba, Mossman and Cairns.
His Excellency is a passionate foodie who is keen to strengthen the relationship between France and Australia through his passion for food.
His visit was integral to the Tropical North Queensland Regional Food Network Cluster Development Project which aims to increase innovation and value-added food products for export markets.
The businesses that hosted the Ambassador’s visit are part of the local food and agriculture industry cluster which is undertaking several events this year to showcase the local food industry and its associated businesses.
The Ambassador was pleased to discover the strong provenance associated with many of the products such as Skybury Coffee and artisan value-added products like Little Tuna’s bottled and flavoured tuna.
Initiatives that transform food waste into a valuable product, such as health supplements from green bananas at Natural Evolution on the Atherton Tablelands, were praised by the Ambassador.
Along the way, the Ambassador learnt about the transformation of cacao into chocolate at Charley’s Chocolate Factory, tried tropical fruit wines at Murdering Point Winery and discovered how native ingredients like the Davidson’s plum transform the flavour of gin at Wolf Lane Distillery.
Our region has a strong agricultural history and the industry is evolving with exciting new products that have great export potential.
Skybury Coffee is already served under the Eiffel Tower and Skybury Café and Roastery General Manager Candy MacLaughlin is keen to take her value-add papaya products including vodka and facial oil to the international market.
Many of Tropical North Queensland’s food products were praised by the Ambassador as being perfect for export and he will be instrumental in making introductions when local growers and manufacturers are ready to enter the European market.
Development of the Tropical North Queensland Regional Food Network Cluster is one of Regional Development Australia Tropical North’s pillars to create jobs and grow the Far North Queensland economy. This visit by the Ambassador was an exciting opportunity for the group.
* Sonja Johnson is the CEO of Regional Development Australia Tropical North, an independent agency driven by community leaders to broker regional development solutions that will create jobs and grow the Far North Queensland economy.
