Dubbo Regional Council is leading the charge on developing a new program to help develop and expand the agri-business sector across the Orana Region of New South Wales (NSW).
Dubbo and Mid Western Regional Councils along with the Shire Councils of Gilgandra, Warrumbungles and Warren are collaborating to deliver the program in partnership with Business DNA to encourage agri-business development in all local government areas across the region.
Primary producers who directly sell their own locally grown meats, vegetables, oils, wine, food and fibres and businesses who value add to these producers are taking part in the 2018 Regional Platters program.
Dubbo Regional Council Manager of Economic Development and Marketing, Josie Howard, said, “The 2018 Region Platters program is a follow up to the 2016 program which focused on the diversification of agri-business into tourism.
“The 2018 program scope is a little wider looking to develop the whole produce to plate lifecycle.
“Participants in the Regional Platters program come together once a month over the Program period for intensive facilitated workshops to develop a plan for their business.
“The producers come from across the Orana region and have a variety of products that are sourced directly from their own properties.
“The aim of Regional Platters is to help the business owners penetrate markets, diversify products and build their own industry network to grow the industry as a whole.
“By developing business plans and the network, the participants can position their business for tourism and leisure markets through tour groups, capitalising on produce to plate initiatives and collaboratively working together to address some of the business, marketing and logistical issues faced by the industry across the region.
“At the end of the series of workshops participants are able to pitch their business ideas for a share of $25,000 to assist their next big project.
The Program develops the Regional Platters Guide to help resellers and customers find the companies and purchase the product or plan tours for those that are tour ready.
“The intent behind the Regional Platters guide is to link wholesalers, re-sellers and customers with the business so they have the opportunity to sell more product and reach more people,” Ms Howard said.
