New map of producers to showcase delights on our doorstep

HELEN Lewis wants to help locals and travellers get some more Warwick produce on their plates.

PRODUCER PRIDE: 'Celebration of Local Flavours' coordinator Helen Lewis is ready to map out all the producers of the Southern Downs. Picture: Chris Lines

HELEN Lewis of the Condamine Headwaters Landcare Group Inc wants to know what "local” really means when it comes to produce.

Mrs Lewis will be releasing a Southern Downs Food Map in partnership with the Jumpers and Jazz Festival's Celebration of Local Flavours event on Palmerin St on July 27.

The map will list all the producers in the area who are selling direct to customers, whether it is off their property or to local cafes of restaurants.

It will be a resource for people travelling to Warwick wanting to sample local flavours and also a test for town eateries to see how local their menus really are.

"There is a disconnect in Warwick between producers and customers. We have no way of ascertaining who is producing what in the region,” Mrs Lewis said.

In response to this issue, Mrs Lewis and the Landcare Group are compiling a list for chefs in the area to find local producers and ideally increase how much they are sourcing from them.

They are also putting together a chef and farmer date night, which will allow the two industries to network.

"We would like to see every restaurant in Warwick serve at least one 100 per cent local meal,” she said.

"Travellers are craving it and it will enhance Warwick's food destination status.”

"We have great events in the town but we need a reason for people to stop in when those events are not running.”

The map will also list suppliers in Brisbane and Toowoomba who stock Southern Downs produce.

"We want people who have a delicious meal here to go home and buy from that producer again,” she said.

Mrs Lewis is putting the call out for all producers in the region who sell directly to customers or eateries to call her on 0418785285 and register their business on the database.