Local produce ‘heroes’ at home

QUALITY western Victorian food can be enjoyed at the home table, without a trip to the supermarket.

Eat Drink West’s produce boxes link the district’s consumers with fresh, nutritious, locally produced food, that usually would be delivered to hospitality businesses.

Kate Davis said Eat Drink West received feedback that shoppers were after meat, bread, milk, eggs, fruit and vegetables.

“We’ve created an essentials box. We started off with Salt Kitchen Charcuterie. We’ve got their streaky bacon and breakfast sausages,” she said.

“There’s chicken from John Harbour Butcher, which is from Hazeldene’s Farm, 1816 Bakehouse sourdough, Inglenook Dairy milk, Blk454 fruit and vegetables, Wilsons Fruit & Vegetables, and Millbrook Free Range eggs.”

Two essential boxes are available for purchase. The local box includes meat, and a vegetarian box swaps in more fruit and vegetables.

As weeks go on, Ms Davis said offerings will change to support as many producers as possible, as less feet step into stores.

“Western Victoria has some incredible produce, and Eat Drink West helps people access this, find out more and educates them about the local produce that we have. These boxes enable us to do this,” she said.

“This is about helping people access this food, as more and more are not going to the supermarket.

“Our producers are our local heroes, and I can’t stress enough how important it is to eat really fresh, healthy, nutritious food. It’s a privilege to work with them like this.”

Visit eatdrinkwest.com.au to check out the boxes. They can be picked up at Housey Housey on Armstrong Street north, or dropped at your door via contactless delivery.