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FAN-tastic support for Moreton Bay food producers
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Jacki’s encouraging local producers and growers to reach out so they can meet other like-minded people across the region.
“I would invite you to register for our monthly newsletter, follow us on social media and come along to a monthly member meet-up where we go to a member’s premises and learn about their experience and chat with each other,” Jacki says.
by Ashleigh Howarth
As the Moreton Bay Co-ordinator for the Food and Agribusiness Network (FAN), Jacki Hinchey is helping to shine a light on the region’s farmers, graziers, producers, manufacturers and makers who are dishing up local flavours for foodies to devour.
By connecting members with each other and resources to build their businesses, Jacki is ensuring more products that offer a taste of Moreton Bay are found in kitchens and venues across Queensland, Australia and overseas.
“FAN is a vital resource for anyone in the food and agribusiness sector as it is a collaborative ecosystem that empowers members and helps the industry to grow,” Jacki says.
“We are the glue that connects everyone in this supply network. My job is to help people and businesses make connections that are valuable for them and drive trade locally and globally.
“Through FAN, you will see food manufacturers collaborating with primary producers and people from the hospitality industry collaborating with beverage producers.”
The member-based, not-for-profit organisation was established in December 2015.
Today, FAN covers four regions including Moreton Bay, Gympie, Noosa and the Sunshine Coast, with roughly 400 members.
Jacki, who is the founder of Blue Dog Farm in Ocean View, joined FAN in 2017 because she wholeheartedly believes in the concept of locally grown food.
“I absolutely loved the idea of FAN and everything they were doing” Jacki explains.
“There are about 50 members from Moreton Bay ranging from large businesses like the Comiskey Group and the Caboolture Sports Club all the way through to solo side hustles started during COVID.
“One of the good things that came out of COVID was REKO - a digital farmers’ market that connects consumers directly with local farmers, makers and growers.”
It is a combination of a digital farmers' market and a drive-through where consumers can order their products online and pick them up weekly at one convenient time and location.
With a love for the land and a passion for growing really good honest food, stall, which grew in popularity through word of mouth.
Jacki’s farm is named Blue Dog Farm which quickly turned her farm and produce into a thriving business.
Jacki realised she was growing more salad leaves than her family could consume, which prompted her to begin sharing the salad mix with families in her community.
She then established a farm gate
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Jacki’s salad mix, with its variety of colour and nutritional diversity, was dubbed Really Fancy Salad by local families.
Today, Really Fancy Salad is a weekly staple on plates in homes and restaurants all over the Moreton Bay Region and Brisbane.
“I produce about 1.5 tonnes of Really Fancy Salad a year, so roughly 30kg a week,” Jacki says.
Jacki also farms Really Good Beef for those same plates too.
“My life is all about food and agribusiness,” Jacki says.
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