Give fair food a fair go at public forum

Australia’s Fair Food movement is entering an exciting new phase – and Northern Rivers locals can get involved.

No longer just the domain of city-dwellers craving greater knowledge of where food comes from and who grows it, the Free Food movement is now thriving in the regions, creating business opportunities and exciting rural futures.

A new breed of farmers is emerging, young men and women living on the land and growing food in transparent, grounded and connected ways.

As part of Southern Cross University’s Regional Food Cultures and Networks Conference, a group of inspiring farmers will spill the beans on what Fair Food means to them at a public forum, Fresh Market Ideas: The (Past and) Future of Farming.

Speakers include Tammi Jonas of Jonai Farms and Meatsmiths in Daylesford, Victoria, Joel Orchard and Anais Gschwind of Future Feeders Mullumbimby, and founder of Byron Bay’s Munch Crunch Organics, Alasdair Smithson. The forum will be facilitated by Dr Nick Rose, national coordinator of the Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance.

Ms Jonas is an ‘ethicurean’ farmer of rare pigs and cattle, who raises and butchers the beasts on her farm. Jonai Farm was the first in Australia to crowdfund major infrastructure, including a farmstead butchery and a curing room and commercial kitchen, and is a nose-to-tail operation, ensuring not one part of any slaughtered animal goes to waste.

Future Feeders, the brainchild of Mr Orchard and Ms Gschwind, has established a 1.5 acre urban market garden at the Mullumbimby Community Gardens. The aim of the project is to establish a collective of young farmers who can share knowledge, resources, labour and equipment to create sustainable and ecological agricultural careers.

Mr Smithson is a young organic farmer who believes the key to the success of his business, Munch Crunch Organics, was engaging directly with local growers and customers. He has created a food model that supports organic farmers by connecting them directly with customers through the internet, in the process forming a new model of community supported agriculture.

Conference organiser, Southern Cross University’s Dr Adele Wessell, said the forum would be a great opportunity for members of the public to learn more about the Fair Food movement and practices they could adopt in everyday life.

“This is the fourth Regional Food Cultures and Networks Conference and the public session at Daylesford last year on food supply chains was really popular,” she said.

“The public is becoming increasingly interested in where their food comes from and how it gets to their plates.

“The intention of this session is to raise awareness about some of the challenges producers face and different models of food production.”

The forum will be held on Tuesday 18 November from 2.30-4.30pm at the Byron Bay Community Centre.
Photo: Tammi Jonas of Jonai Farm.