Mornington Peninsula growers launch new guide to region’s best produce ‘Get Fresh at the Farm Gate’
FINDING the best food grown, raised or bred on the Mornington Peninsula just got easier, thanks to a fresh new farm gate guide.
South East
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PENINSULA growers are spruiking their produce and proteins via a revamped farm gate guide.
Get Fresh at the Farm Gate was launched this week to help promote 21 farms from Baxter to Rye.
The new brochure and map is a collaboration between the farmers, Mornington Peninsula Produce (MPP) and Mornington Peninsula Shire Council.
Most properties on the map are MPP members. The certified trademark is a guarantee that the produce has been grown, bred or raised entirely on the Mornington Peninsula.
The shire’s agribusiness and food industry facilitator Sarah Saxton said the farm gate guide aimed to help consumers find top quality produce specific to the region.
“It’s not a new concept but we wanted to refresh and expand what was already there,” Ms Saxton said.
“I think the farm gates included are a really good representation of what the peninsula has to offer.”
She said about 80 per cent of the farms participating in the guide were also MMP certified.
“Consumers can be confident that they are buying local produce that has been ethically and sustainably farmed, bred or raised,” Ms Saxton said.
Five new farm gates have been added to the map, which also lists produce availability according to the seasons.
Apple and cherry growers Geoff and Janice Staples have been involved with the guide for more than 20 years.
Mr Staples said the interest in food provenance and sensitivities around food miles had grown over the years.
“People want to know where their food comes from,” he said.
“They are interested in eating produce that is local to the region they are visiting.”
Mr Staples said the guide was also a chance to educate visitors about what was on offer across the region.
“We can talk about what we do and recommend other places on the guide for people to visit,” he said.
Another long-time member of the group Ailsa Hemphill of Orchard Cottage said the map helped encourage tourists to “make a day of it”.
“They can visit a bunch of farm gates to buy a range of produce,” she said.
Red Hill Cherry Farm’s Trevor Holmes said he had seen the demographic of visitors change over the years he had been part of the guide.
“It used to be a lot of Greeks and Italians haggling over the price of the fruit,” he said.
“Now we have a lot of interest from Asian tourists and they are mainly concerned with quality.”
Ryan Sharpley of Benton Rise Farm said he had chosen to be included in the guide because it was a chance to be part of a wider farming community.
“It’s a great chance to be able to work together and support each other,” he said.
The guide covers farm gates from Baxter to Rye, Tuerong to Shoreham and everything in between.
The listed farm gates sell proteins including beef, seafood, cheese and eggs.
There’s also seasonal and tree ripened fruit including berries, cherries, apples, pears, peaches, and nectarines and vegetables including heirloom varieties, potatoes, carrots, onions, beetroot, garlic
Preserves, pickles, honey, olive oil, cider and flowers are also sold direct from the growers and producers.
To find out more click here.