A ‘farm to you’ home delivery business with plans to deliver Scenic Rim produce and products to city customers was launched on Friday morning.

The Scenic Rim Farm Box initiative was developed as a consequence of the Covid-19 travel restrictions by Kalfresh in collaboration with the Scenic Rim Regional Council. 

“When we heard that Eat Local Week could not proceed in 2020, we started thinking about the ways we could still connect city-based consumers with the Scenic Rim’s seasonal produce,” said Kalfresh CEO Richard Gorman.

“As well as being a farming business, we are a packing and logistics business, so we have offered our systems and team to the new Scenic Rim Farm Box enterprise. The concept was ‘If the city can’t come to the Scenic Rim, let’s take the Scenic Rim to them’.

With 15 suppliers on board, the products will be marketed to areas such as Brisbane and the Gold Coast so as to not compete with local businesses.

Mayor Greg Christensen said the service will deliver farm fresh produce and products grown or made in the Scenic Rim.

“Council has committed to work with the region's agricultural sector to develop a broader Scenic Rim Providore sales, logistics and delivery solution to open up growth opportunities.”

Cr Christensen added that the first boxes are expected to be delivered in early May.

Mr Gorman said they had established a new entity and were committed to help get the concept off the ground. 

“This is a fantastic opportunity for Scenic Rim farmers and producers to put their seasonal products in front of city consumers during a challenging time,” he said.

“A number of local produce businesses already have existing systems and infrastructure which we hope to utilise to benefit the region.

“Scenic Rim Regional Council has been very proactive in supporting this idea, which we hope will turn a difficult situation into an opportunity. We look forward to working with an amazing array of producers and businesses well beyond Covid-19 to provide ongoing opportunities for the local ag sector and broader region.”

Suppliers to Scenic Rim Farm Box must be Eat Local Scenic Rim Accredited Locavores or be able to meet the same criteria. To be eligible, suppliers must also meet food safety, capability and quality requirements as assessed by Scenic Rim Farm Box.