Researching the Potential to Develop an Organics Farming Concept on the Southern Tablelands
This report was prepared by Bob Cobavie of Outsource Management P/L in conjunction with Advance Cairns and supported by DEEDI.
To view the report click on the following:
final-organics-feasiblity-study-pdf
Appendixes
appendix-2_references-further-reading
appendix-4_existing-farmers-markets
appendix-5_fnq-statistical-divisions
The Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation invites you to take part in a comprehensive activity-based workshop series where you will learn how to increase business profitability using website technology.
Social media for business
Wednesday 1 December 2010
Presented by Nicky Jurd of Precedence
This session will examine the various social media tools available and how you can best use these tools to market your business. Examine reputation management and how to avoid the mistakes businesses often make while marketing in the social arena. Explore Twitter, Facebook, blogs and review websites such as TripAdvisor.
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Where to from here
Thursday 2 December 2010
This session will review the content covered in the previous three workshops. Attendees will be provided with a workbook to help prepare for the further advance with their online business. This session will have all three presenters available to address any questions.
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Time |
5.30pm – 8.30pm on the dates specified |
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Venue |
Cairns Centre Ground floor, Corner Grafton and Hartley Street Cairns |
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Cost |
$33.00 (incl GST*) |
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Register |
To register please complete the registration form and return to the Cairns Centre at the details below. |
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Contact |
Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation Telephone: 07 4048 1111 Facsimile: 07 4048 1122 Email: businessassist.cairns@deedi.qld.gov.au |
Imaging in 10 years time where our agri-food industry will be? With our rich soils, plenty of sun and an abundance of rainfall, will it be the nation’s food bowl? Will we have a food manufacturing industry to support the diverse range of food products available? Will our regional food brand Taste Paradise be as renowned as Food Barossa? …and will our region be internationally recognised as a food tourism destination similar to Provence, Tuscany or San Sebastian? It is said that nothing significant happens that isn’t planned!
Two week’s ago I attended an Agri-food tourism field day and Food Industry forum held in the Cassowary and Tablelands areas. These four well attended workshops proved that farmers are interested in the future of the industry.
The field day looked at opportunities to diversify their farming product in a number of ways that included linkages into tourism. Whether it’s selling food at local farmers markets, processing their product, finding a supply chain to local retail & food services, or opening their property for visitation, these farmers were positively encouraged to take the next step; a series of workshops of mentoring their way through a maze of related business development skills.
The forums were about bringing the industry together; development of a local food supply chain that brings regional produce into the Cairns area, to retailers and restaurants, and developing an accreditation framework that links to the new regional food brand; Taste Paradise. The sessions lead by Rose Wright from the Southern Cross University provided a great discussion. This lady knows her stuff when working along the supply chain from farmers to the consumer but she also works on a political level of compliance support and regulatory reform to address the impediments placed on agribusiness entrepreneurs. At the end of the forum it was exciting to see a very positive response from farmers, and it goes without saying the more who embrace this framework, the better chance of success.
Rose is finalising a Regional Food Strategy 2010-2020 in consultation with industry and will facilitate the elements in the region over the next six months.
If you are looking for new opportunities, are interested in diversifying your primary product or venturing into Agri-Food Tourism, contact Nola Craig at info@australiantropicalfoods.com
Export Master Class
Learn how to effectively pitch your product, service or companyand close export deals. Good pitching skills will give you the edge against local and international competition.
Time 10.15 am for 10.30 am to 2.30 pm
Date Tuesday 30 November 2010
Venue Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation
Cairns Regional Centre, Ground Floor, Cairns Port Authority Building
Cnr Grafton and Hartley Streets, Cairns
Cost $44 (incl. GST)
RSVP Please RSVP using the attached payment and registration form
Export Masterclass
Exporting can be a highly profitable, rewarding strategy for your business to achieve success in international markets.
The risks in exporting can be effectively managed.
This master class will show you how to put in place techniques to protect your company from the risks associated with export, including a simple riskmanagement plan for your business.
Time 10.15 am for 10.30 am to 2.30 pm
Date Tuesday 7 December 2010
Venue Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation
Cairns Regional Centre Ground Floor, Cairns Port Authority Building
Cnr Grafton and Hartley Streets, Cairns
Cost $44 (incl. GST)
RSVP Please RSVP using the attached payment and registration form
You can assist in a survey for the development of a Regional Food System that will support the production, distribution and sale of local food for local consumption. The outcomes of the survey will help support our local farmers, provide healthy, fresh, seasonal, regional food to our local community and create authentic local tourism experiences that will have visitors raving about the amazing food offering experienced in Tropical North Queensland.
There are four different surveys for; Local residents, Local food producers, Tourism and Hospitality businesses, and Visitors.
Click here for the Advance Cairns Tropical North Queensland Food Supply Surveys and you could win $250 worth of premium seafood from Cairns Ocean Products
Craig Squire won the award for his Tempura bugs, papaya salad, with sweet chilli lemon myrtle dipping sauce.
This dish was chosen for its innovative use of local ingredients that is the essence of Tropical North Queensland
The Public Vote Winner was Tropical Pan seared Tuna salad laced with a Mango vinaigrette’ by Chriso the Personal Chef with 464 votes
Finalists included
1 Tier of mud crab, mango and avocado from Kewarra Beach Resort
2 Julaymba Journey by Julaymba Restaurant at Daintree Eco Lodge
Three innovative finalist dishes were cooked off in front of the public and a panel of judges at the Pier at the Marina on Saturday 13th November, to declare the winning dish that was considered the essence of Tropical North Queensland, on the presentation and how innovatively the chef has used local regional produce so that every mouthful says ‘Taste Paradise’.
What do you get when you mix Queensland’s finest regional produce, a splash of wine, some passionate producers and one very excitable chef in a television series?
The result is Off the Eaten Track – a collaboration between the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) and Tourism Queensland, to air on Saturday 4 December at 7pm on Channel 7. in the lead up to Christmas.Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland Tim Mulherin said the series was a celebration of the people who grow, catch and make Queensland produce.
From iconic Queensland mud crabs and mangoes to the more exotic avocado ice-cream and Australian Desert Limes, Off the Eaten Track will tantalize your taste buds.
Celebrate a feast of Atherton Tableland coffee, Chinchilla’s Murray cod, Rockhampton’s beef, Hervey Bay’s scallops, Ayr’s exotic achachas and buffalo mozzarella from Cairns.
“While Off the Eaten Track showcases how regional produce can be prepared, it is not just about cooking or travel – it is a revealing and entertaining exposé of the high-quality produce that comes from our state,” he said.
“Queensland has an increasing reputation both domestically and internationally for high quality fresh produce and wine and this series will help build it further.
for more information…..click here
Check out www.queenslandholidays.com.au/eat for a preview
The Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation invites you to take part in a comprehensive activity-based workshop series where you will learn how to increase business profitability using website technology.
——————————————————————————–
What about online: beginner’s basics
Wednesday 24 November 2010
Presented by Robert Rutten of Rutten Technologies
This session will demystify the myths and clarify the terms generally used in relation to online businesses. From differentiating between business and domain names, email and web hosting, to the dos and don’ts of being online, this session will help you choose the right tool for the job.
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Making online business work
Thursday 25 November 2010
Presented by Emmy Kerrigan of Atlas Projects
session will work through identifying a clear, comprehensive, strategic implementation plan. By identifying your key business needs to succeed and incorporating them with your online strategy, you are better prepared for a more effective online presence. Understand how having an online strategy can create an active marketing channel for your business and how this can help to achieve your business goal.
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Social media for business
Wednesday 1 December 2010
Presented by Nicky Jurd of Precedence
This session will examine the various social media tools available and how you can best use these tools to market your business. Examine reputation management and how to avoid the mistakes businesses often make while marketing in the social arena. Explore Twitter, Facebook, blogs and review websites such as TripAdvisor.
——————————————————————————–
Where to from here
Thursday 2 December 2010
This session will review the content covered in the previous three workshops. Attendees will be provided with a workbook to help prepare for the further advance with their online business. This session will have all three presenters available to address any questions.
——————————————————————————–
Time 5.30pm – 8.30pm on the dates specified
Venue Cairns Centre
Ground floor, Corner Grafton and Hartley Street, Cairns
Cost $33.00 (incl GST*)
Register To register please complete the registration form and return to the Cairns Centre at the details below. Contact Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation
PO Box 2358 CAIRNS QLD 4870
Telephone: 07 4048 1111 Facsimile: 07 4048 1122
Email: businessassist.cairns@deedi.qld.gov.au
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