The Southern Forests Food Council is pleased to announce a new partnership with S.J. Fresh Produce to encourage supply of Genuinely Southern Forests produce to regional Western Australia. S.J. Fresh Produce is a Western Australian fruit and vegetable wholesaler that supplies supermarkets, retailers, hotels, catering businesses, and food processors in the Perth metropolitan area and throughout regional W.A.
The new partnership will see S.J. Fresh Produce actively promote Genuinely Southern Forests produce to their customers with a commission returned to the Food Council on all produce sourced directly from the Southern Forests region.
S.J. Fresh Produce Sales Director Vince Zani said, “We've received a lot of interest from greengrocers and consumers who want to know they are supporting the farmers directly. We’re looking forward to working with the Southern Forests Food Council to increase the availability of Genuinely Southern Forests produce in these regional areas. ”
He continued, “We're also looking forward to working with the Food Council to promote the produce in these stores to ensure the end consumer can identify the products they're buying as locally grown or produced. It’s exciting that we can now see and purchase such an array of products - from sparkling juices, pastured eggs and buckwheat through to your staples of potatoes, brassica’s, apples and berries right through to distinctive and often short season produce offerings.”
The Southern Forests Food Council is funded by a $1.5 million investment from the State Government over three years, but aims to be self-sustaining in the long term. The partnership with S.J. Fresh Produce will give producers from across the region a new opportunity to supply their products into the regional food service and hospitality sectors.
Southern Forests Food Council Chairman Bevan Eatts welcomes the partnership saying, “S.J. Fresh Produce's philosophy of supplying their clients with seasonal fresh produce, having relationships with the grower behind the produce and passing that knowledge on to greengrocers is of great value.” Bevan continued, “We are really looking forward to seeing more Genuinely Southern Forests produce in regional stores across the State throughout the upcoming season. We've been running a retail marketing campaign in the Perth Metro area for the past two years, which we are now looking at extending to regional areas.”
The Southern Forests region includes the towns of Manjimup, Pemberton, Northcliffe and Walpole resulting in an extensive range of over 50 fruits and vegetables grown by member producers with variety of produce including apples, avocados, brassica, stone fruit and potatoes in addition to value added grocery products including honey, wine, green tea and sparkling juices.
A Committee of Management, together with Southern Forest Food Council staff, bring the region’s world-class and varied produce to domestic and overseas markets; and play an integral role in unifying the area’s diverse producers to strengthen economic performance, attract further investment, create sustainable employment and promote regional pride.
S.J. Fresh Produce are able to supply Genuinely Southern Forests produce State-wide.
For further information contact: Bevan Eatts - SFFC Executive Chairman 0419 811 823 or email bevan@southernforestsfood.com
Vince Zani – S.J. Fresh Produce 0420 461 165 or email sales@sjfreshproduce.com.au
Image: The S.J. Fresh Produce team looking forward to working with the Southern Forests Food Council.