A new restaurant focusing on sustainable, eco-friendly dining has opened in St Kilda.  SlowDown!@HarleyCourt is the four year labour of love of St Kilda restaurateur David Carruthers. The restaurant focuses on using local produce, with at least 90% of ingredients, including wine and beers, being sourced from within 200km or as close as possible from within Victoria.  The food is organic and biodynamic where possible, and the restaurant uses a whole animal approach to meat, from animals that have... ...Read more »

Nearly a third (30%) of shoppers claim to have specifically purchased locally-produced food over the last month, double the number from 2006, according to new consumer research released by food and grocery analysts IGD. Support for ethically produced foods in general has withstood the pressures of an 18-month recession and is in fact growing. When asked about food they have specifically purchased over the last month, shoppers responded: * 30% said locally produced food (up from 15% in 2006) * 27%... ...Read more »

The Premier of Victoria, John Brumby, says Asian shoppers are lining their trolleys with Victorian produce after spotting a host of local products in a Hong Kong supermarket. Five months ago the Premier launched a $1.4 million food processing plant for Donny Boy Fresh Food Company in Derrimut. This week, as he perused the shelves of Great Supermarket in Hong Kong, Mr Brumby spotted the familiar fruit juice (Preshafruit) on the shelf. “This juice not only boost’s Hong Kong shoppers’... ...Read more »

Coles will sell produce which has suffered cosmetic blemishes as a result of the heat, but whose eating quality is not affected, Australia’s second largest supermarket operator has advised. Coles Fresh Produce General Manager, Peter Pokorny, said that the chain will offer the fruit and vegetables to their customers in an effort to assist growers counting their losses in response to the heatwave. “Our customers expect our stores to sell only the best quality fresh produce, and we have... ...Read more »

The Federal Government is planning to introduce a “Grown in Australia” label for packaged food but progress is stalling due to the number of people involved in the process, Agriculture Minister Tony Burke has advised. “In terms of the labelling issue, I’ll say at the start that I think all of these processes on labelling move way too slowly. There’s so many ministers involved, so many different levels of government involved,” he told Adelaide’s 5AA radio... ...Read more »

In line with growing health awareness and changing demographics, demand for fruits and vegetables is expected to increase in the long term, according to Rabobank’s recently published ‘North American Food & Agribusiness Outlook.’ With consumers increasingly preparing meals at home, overall produce sales are on the rise, according to Rabobank analyst Marieke de Rijke. “In the short term much of the growth will depend on the economy, which may temporarily drop demand for fresh-cut... ...Read more »

In a sign of the times, South Australian Premier Mike Rann has announced a new campaign encouraging South Australians to buy and spend locally. The promotion follows on from the ‘Buy South Australian, it’s better for you’ campaign and is indicative of a growing trend towards ‘local’ food in many other regions across the world. “Now that the frenzy of Christmas is over, we have a chance to catch our breath and really consider the impact of our purchasing,”... ...Read more »

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has appointed a former journalist to the position of London “food champion”. Rosie Boycott, former editor of the Independent on Sunday and the owner of a small organic farm, is to take on the position as Chair of London Food, with the task to improve Londoners’ access to healthy, locally produced and affordable food. Boris Johnson was excited about the appointment, believing quality local produce needs to brought to a more diverse range of Londoners.... ...Read more »

Wal-Mart has announced that they will source more local produce in their endeavour to keep prices down. The announcement comes at a time when America is readying itself for its’ annual Independence Day celebration and is part of Wal-Mart’s strategy to evoke greater connection to their customers on patriotic grounds. Wal-Mart use hundreds of growers across the United States and already are America’s largest purchaser of local produce. In the summer months about one fifth of produce... ...Read more »