FORK and Cork chairperson Barbara Lightburn was “tapped on the shoulder” to become part of the festival committee and sees it is a natural fit with her job as Regional Development Australia Limestone Coast manager of economic and business development.
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She sees potential to “reinvent” the agriculturally-rich region, value add to its primary production and then make it available to tourists travelling the Great Ocean Road between Adelaide and Melbourne. “The wine industry does it well, but the food industry still could do much more,” she said.
“If the community starts demanding local product, it will grow from there. If you think about the food being produced in the regions, it is important for every region in SA, even those with mining. It employs a lot of people and has huge economic value to the state.”
David and Trudy Herbert, from Herbert Vineyard on the northern outskirts of Mount Gambier, will be among those pouring award-winning wines from the premium label.
“For all the producers of food and wine it is a venue to showcase what we do in Mount Gambier and the South East,” Mr Herbert said.
“Mount Gambier is regarded as the coolest climate region in SA. Pinot Noir does well in the region, but we also have a spectrum of great wines.”
A celebratory lunch prepared by Miguel Maestre and the team from The Main Events Conference and Catering will be held on the following day of the festival – Sunday, February 28. Tickets to the Spanish fiesta in City Hall are selling fast.
The Main Events Conference and Catering directors Josslyn Lee and Lucy Von Stanke, who also run Presto Cafe, are looking forward to cooking with Mr Maestre using mainly local produce.