Preserving food business

By DIONTEASDALE
SHIRE of Yarra Ranges and the Centre for Agriculture and Business have joined forces for a project that aims to give local food processing businesses a boost.

The project, currently involving consultation with small food producers in the region, will determine if it is viable to establish an industrial scale kitchen and storage area where small food businesses could rent space and link up with other likeminded businesses.
Shire of Yarra Ranges Councillor and Centre for Agriculture and Business (CAB) board member, Clive Larkman said the shared kitchen would help small food businesses grow.
“We have many small scale food processing businesses and caterers in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges, possibly more than 100, who could benefit from this project,” he said.
“Many of these businesses are constrained by the limited facilities they currently have to produce and store their products.” Cr Larkman said the shared kitchen could help add more value to the wonderful produce of the Yarra Valley.
“This is an exciting opportunity for the Shire and CAB to join forces to further strengthen our community,” he said.
CAB board member and Yarra Valley Regional Food Group convenor Suzanne Halliday said the CAB, the shire, the Yarra Valley Food Group and Swinburne University were working together to identify the level of demand for a shared kitchen over the next five years.
“So far about 25 small food processing businesses have expressed their interest in being surveyed about their possible use for a kitchen,” Ms Halliday said.
A workshop at Swinburne University on 6 July, involving experienced food processors and small businesses who have expressed an interest in the kitchen, discussed the project further.
“We looked at what was the most appropriate form for a shared kitchen/storage facility, what range of services would be offered there and established the needs of potential users,” Ms Halliday said.
Yarra Valley Preserves proprietor Peter Jordan, who currently operates his business in a small commercial kitchen in Launching Place, said the project had many merits and could benefit small food producers in a number of ways.
“A shared kitchen would encourage growth and diversity in the local food industry and allow current producers to share resources,” he said.
Cr Larkman said the project steering committee was keen to hear from other smallscale food processing businesses who would be interested in using such a facility.
The steering committee will survey interested people from the start of September.
Businesses can contact Ian Ada at the Shire of Yarra Ranges on 1300 368 333.