NEWS

Tasting Australia

NETWORK

Show off your buns

COMMITTEE NOTES

What's happening in the AHF?

PEOPLE & PLACES

The face of the Hills

EVENTS

CONTACTS

CALENDAR

ADVERTISE

The Adelaide Hills Food Chain

What a turnout

Wow! More than 30 members and guests arrived bearing platters of produce at the new Udder Delights Cheese Cellar and Cafe at Hahndorf last month for the AHF Network Night.

Justin Markos, Head Chef at Mount Lofty House, encouraged everyone to support him in his creative representation of Adelaide Hills produce in the Tasting Australia Culinary Competition by contacting him directly or attending the Adelaide Hills Showcase evening at Mount Lofty House (held last Wednesday).

Sheree Sullivan, who so generously provided the wonderful venue and the most beautiful cheeses for us all to enjoy under the shade of the century old plain trees, entertained everyone with a presentation of her inspiring new business ventures - the Cheese Cellar and Cafe and new Adelaide Hills Cheese and Wine Trail which are receiving such a lot of publicity and really putting the region and its produce on the map.

In the News

Tasting Australia at Hills markets

Held every two years in Adelaide, the Tasting Australia festival celebrates the very best Australia has to offer in food, wine and beer. It's one of the most significant events of its kind in the world.

Celebrated over eight days this October, Tasting Australia offers a number of events designed for the nation's food and hospitality industry, local and international media and the public.

Part of the Tasting Australia program that is available to the public will feature three Adelaide Hills produce markets: Battunga Country Growers Market at Macclesfield, Heart of the Hills Market at Lobethal and Hills Producers Market at Uraidla.

This could be fantastic opportunity for AHF producers to get some product exposure at these markets that will be well covered in Tasting Australia publicity and well attended during the festival.

There are contact listings for these markets in the Adelaide Hills Food Guide or contact Food Industry Development Officer Denise Manson on 08 81310133 or visit www.tasting-australia.com.au.

Initiate a Tasting Australia event

Associated Tasting Australia events, such as the Wood Oven Weekend (see below) at The Flower Garden, is the fastest growing area of Tasting Australia where restaurants, cafes, bars, hotels, wineries and hospitality and tourism operators are encouraged to take part in the festival, with their initiatives publicized through the Tasting Australia media outlets.

While these events are not managed by Tasting Australia, there are still criteria that need to be met in order to guarantee the provision of activities which meet the high quality objectives of Tasting Australia. To register your expression of interest to conduct an associated event, contact Food Industry Development Officer Denise Manson on 08 81310133,

Food Guide reprint for Tasting Australia

With all the positive feedback from the publication and distribution of the Adelaide Hills Food Guide and the fact that we have less than 250 copies left in stock from a print run of 10,000, there is strong feeling among AHF members and the tourism industry to reprint the Guide including all new members ready for the Tasting Australia festival in October.

There is a small group of members currently working on funding and content options, so any feedback and ideas from Members and Friends are welcomed. Please email suggestions to mary_fowler@bigpond.com.

Whey to go Woodside Cheese Wrights

AHF member award-winning Woodside Cheese Wrights has recently won another major trophy for the Most Successful Exhibitor in Sheep, Goat and Buffalo Milk categories at the Sydney Royal Show, winning 3 gold and 7 silver. This is the fifth consecutive win for Woodside Cheese Wrights of this trophy.

Woodside Cheese Wrights CEO and Head Cheesemaker, Kris Lloyd, said the win was an important one in continuing to maintain the company's national reputation. All cheeses are available for tasting and sales at the newly-opened Woodside Cheese Cellar, Heritage Park, Woodside. Tel 08-8389 7877.

Have your say

The Adelaide Hills Food Chain is produced by Adelaide Hills Food for its members and friends and associated industries.
Your contribution as a member of the food industry is welcome and we encourage anyone who has something to share to send any news and pictures to…
Mary Fowler
PO Box 66
Basket Range SA 5138
Tel 08 8390 0415, Mobile 0408 882 623.
Email: mary_fowler@bigpond.com

Excellent exposure

The Adelaide Hills Food Chain is a great place for members and associated businesses to advertise products, services, opportunities and events - in fact, anything that relates to our food industry.
Reaching Adelaide Hills Food Members and Friends, local and interstate food media, Adelaide Hills Tourism Marketing Committee members and members of the Adelaide Hills Wine Region, advertising in the Adelaide Hills Food Chain represents fantastic value at $40 plus GST per standard supplied ad.
If you would like to advertise in the next issue of the Adelaide Hills Food Chain visit www.adelaidehillsfood.com.au/news/advert/ or phone Andrew Kelleher at Sema4 Media on 0411 025 076.

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Committee Notes

New Chair not to be sat on

Mary Fowler, Chairperson

Mary Fowler

As a representative of the food/tourism media, a member of the Adelaide Hills Tourism Marketing Committee and new chair of Adelaide Hills Food, with all of your help I believe we can realise the huge potential for food in the Adelaide Hills.

It's a really exciting time for Adelaide Hills Food because there is so much being achieved and worked on as a group to benefit all of you who individually make up the Adelaide Hills Food producers group.

All this activity has had a direct result on group membership which has increased at a rate of two subscriptions per month with current members' interest and involvement with group projects and industry events also on the rise. This can be attributed to...

• Genuine active FIDO support
• Completion of the Food Guide
• Regular newsletters
• Regular network events
• Involvement with the Showgrounds Farmers' Market
• Produce showcase events
• Current project work (farmers' market and website renovation)
• Regular liaison and cooperation between the Adelaide Hills Tourism Marketing Committee and the Adelaide Hills Wine Region
• A fantastic committee that represents all facets of the food industry.

The past 12 months have produced many positive outcomes for the group, but unfortunately most of the work behind these events and projects rests with very few people, ie FIDO and committee members.
None of us want to see that momentum lost, but at the same time we need to be realistic about what we can actually achieve as a group considering all of our time is precious, so we need to...

• Be outcome focussed, working on 2 to 3 key projects only.
• Support the Food Industry Development Officer, Denise Manson, in her work linking government initiatives with the private sector market development.
• Take up the generous offer of administration support offer for our projects from Adelaide Hills Regional Development Board officer Heather White.
• Encourage other interested members to become part of small project groups that are currently made up of committee members only.
• Consider advertising for volunteers to draw from food industry population and interested individuals to help facilitate project work.
  

We need to work on a project and outcomes basis to increase membership, member independence and morale. By the next AGM in October, it would be satisfying to see...

• The Farmers' Market feasibility project complete and a direction taken.
• The website complete and functional.
• The newsletter contributed to and used by members.
• Adelaide Hills Tourism, Adelaide Hills Wine Region and AHF really working together to promote the best the Hills has to offer.
• Members really seeing the value of the support, networking and group marketing that the group can provide.
• Members significantly contributing to the group's objectives for their own benefit and for the benefit of the region.
• The FIDO position being renewed for all the valuable support to the growing food industry and the food group that it brings.
• Administrative support within the group, either voluntary or paid.

We should aim to build a food group that...

• Realises its value and potential.
• Believes its collaboration is worthwhile.
• Benefits from its involvement individually and as a group.
• Takes initiative in taking advantage of the opportunities that are presented to them to promote their businesses and the region.
• Significantly contributes to achieving the group's objectives.
• Inspires others to become involved in the food industry.

Introducing Marc Dobson

The newest Adelaide Hills Food executive committee member is Marc Dobson (right), co-owner of Hahndorf Hill Winery. Marc is a former journalist and advertising copywriter who is perpetually fascinated by what motivates and inspires people. He serves as an executive committee member of Adelaide Hills Tourism, and is passionate about developing and promoting the respective Adelaide Hills brands of food and wine. He believes the Adelaide Hills is poised to become South Australia's fashionable new wine and food destination.
The AHF Executive Committee is now currently made up of...

• Mary Fowler, Food/Travel Writer (Chair)
• Sean Bradshaw, HQ Cuisine (Treasurer)
• Margaret Gilbert, Millie's Bakery (Secretary)
• John Delaine (Hahndorf Venison)
• Marc Dobson (Hahndorf Hill Winery)
• Anton van Klopper (organic and biodynamic horticulturalist and viticulturalist)
• Maurice Kneen (Araluen)
• Rob May (Red Creek Olives)

Making strategies

The AHF executive committee will be holding a "Strategic Planning" meeting on Tuesday, March 6 to develop ongoing strategies for the food group in the Adelaide Hills.

As committee members we exist to represent the ideas and issues of all AHF Members and Friends and encourage you to write or email any suggestions, thoughts and ideas about how to involve more food producers in the group, enhance networking, give value to members, or whatever comes to mind.

If you would like to see a copy of the outgoing 2004-2007 AHF Strategic Plan or would like to put forward your suggestions, please contact me before Friday, March 5.

Margaret Gilbert
Secretary, Adelaide Hills Food
margaret@milliesbakery.com.au
08 8398 3266 phone
08 8398 3260 fax

Adelaide Showground Farmers Market report

The Showground Farmers Market appears to have recovered from the predictable post Christmas drop in trade, although stall numbers are down, probably due to produce seasonality and some settling and fine tuning of the market.

The market continues to be blessed with fine weather on market days and has yet to experience wet weather trading, however, market management is preparing for this contingency.

Only four Adelaide Hills Food members took advantage of the opportunity to trade at the Farmers Market this month using the AHF corporate sites, albeit several other AHF members continue to trade regularly at the market as members of the market.

The fee structure for members wishing to trade under the AHF banner has been reviewed and adjusted by the executive to provide for a more equitable application and possibly provide an inducement to participation.

Maurice Kneen, Araluen

Website report

The rebuild of the Adelaide Hills Food website is progressing well. A meeting to be held next week will spend some time discussing the mix of the site's Public versus Members content and also fine-tune some of the design concepts.

If you have any ideas you would like to see incorporated into the site, contact Andrew Kelleher at Sema4 Media (abk@sema4.com.au).

Daffynition

Volunteer ..... Take on work that makes no cents.

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People and Places

Mount Lofty House showcase

Around 80 guests, including AHF members, friends, media and chefs, gathered at Mount Lofty House last Wednesday night to sample some of the Hills' finest food and wine.

The group of Adelaide Hills Food and Adelaide Hills Wine Region producers, who were there to showcase their product to Mount Lofty House head chef Justin Markos and his team for possible use in his “Adelaide Hills” Culinary Competition entry, included…

• Basket Range Wines
• Bird In Hand
• Buzz Honey
• Griffin Wines
• Hahndorf Hill Winery
• Hahndorf Venison
• Ken Cobbledick (vegetable grower)
• Leabrook Estate
• Longview Vineyard
• Magdalena van der Aue (plum producer)
• Malcolm Creek wines
• Max Noske and Son Country Meat
• Millie's Bakery
• Premium Olives Australia
• Richard Gunner's Fine Meats
• Salad Greens and Kitchen Herbs
• Udder Delights
• Woodside Cheese Wrights

Food Industry Development Officer Denise Manson introduced Justin Markos, who then talked about how excited he is to be representing the Adelaide Hills and its fine produce in the Tasting Australia Culinary Competition.

Larry Jacobs from Hahndorf Hill Winery finished the formal part of the evening with an inspiring speech about the Hill's rich and diverse growing environments that produce a range of exceptional and distinctive food and wine products that are unique to the region.

Popping the champagne

AHF member Bird in Hand has signed a UK distribution agreement with one of the world's most prestigious wine producers, Champagne Lanson.
Lanson, who since 1760 has established an enduring reputation as one of the premier Champagne houses has selected Bird in Hand as a partner in their UK distribution business.

The arrangement will commence during Australia Day wine tastings in London, an opportunity to present wines to some of the worlds most influential wine buyers.

The agreement tops off a fantastic 12 months for Bird in Hand who has received consistent accolades from Australia's leading wine critics, including being awarded 2006 Australian Wine of the Year by Winestate Magazine.

To find out more visit www.birdinhand.com.au. PDF newsletter.

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Events

Tour Willabrand Figs and historic Glen Ewin farm

Sunday March 25, 11am

Download PDF 200kb

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Contacts

Drought Hotline

The South Australian Government has set up a drought hotline and website to assist communities access information on support services, managing conditions etc.

The professional team of Networkers appointed by FarmBis in South Australia is there to help bridge the gap between training providers and primary producers.

Robert (Red) Hodge, Ceris Crosby and Annette Filby combine to offer a broad range of valuable experience in working with primary industries and regional communities across the State.

Red Hodge: Phone 08 8226 0375, Fax 08 8226 0333, Mobile 0417 230 072.
Ceris Crosby: Phone 08 8226 1449, Fax 08 8226 0333, Mobile 0428 106 269.
Annette Filby: Phone 08 8226 0378, Fax 08 8226 0333, Mobile 0428 104 625.

Calendar

Please send information about upcoming events to food@southcentralacc.com if you would like them to be included in the next newsletter which will be published in the first week of March 2007.

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Administration

You are receiving this email because you opted to join the Adelaide Hills Food News list. If you were forwarded this email and would like to subscribe and have it delivered to your in-box each month click the Subscribe link at the end of this message. To unsubscribe to this list, select the Unsubscribe link. To read this newsletter with your web-browser click here. For other enquiries email ahf@adelaidehillsfood.com.au. For more information visit the Adelaide Hills Food web site at www.adelaidehillsfood.com.au