The Huon Valley Food Hub was an initiative led by the Huon Valley Council that ran from 2021 to 2024, with support from the Australian Government Building Better Regions Fund.
The Huon Valley Food Hub received national recognition when it was shortlisted as a finalist in the 2023 National Economic Development Awards for Excellence.
After three years of successful programs, the Huon Valley Council sought community groups to continue stewarding the initiative. Due to the project’s scale and resourcing needs, no group was able to take on this role, and the formal project concluded in 2024.
Strategic foundation of the Huon Valley Food Hub
Vision: Providing Huon Valley food to all Huon Valley people.
Mission: The Huon Valley’s food and farming system is resilient, regenerative, equitable and inclusive, where our food culture is celebrated and shared.
Objective: To grow a vibrant and connected food system that contributes to the health, social, economic and environmental outcomes of the Huon Valley.
Four projects were developed and delivered
Through community workshops and collaboration with local producers, the project brought together growers, consumers, businesses and community members to celebrate and strengthen the Huon Valley’s food culture.
Four projects were developed and delivered through this collaborative process:
Farmgate Blitz
Ten farmgate ‘blitzes’ – or community workshops – were held to enable small-scale farmers to become regenerative producers and build community members’ capacity for local growing. Expert mentors in market gardening and regenerative production techniques attended the blitzes to provide guidance and advice.
Food Prescriptions
Over a ten-week period, a weekly food box containing fresh local produce was delivered to referred clients who had a chronic health condition or other circumstances that made accessing fresh food difficult. This project was delivered in collaboration with local farms, Diabetes Tasmania and Health Consumers Tasmania.
Grow Together Harvest Festival
A curated program of community celebrations and events across Huon Valley townships brought producers and consumers together to celebrate the harvest season through local feasts, cooking demonstrations, and workshops.
Sacred Country Project
Aboriginal elders, teachers and students worked together to develop a program of activity based around knowledge sharing. Students from Sacred Heart Catholic School deepened their connection to Country by listening to Elders and learning about traditional edible natives and regenerative land management.
Resources from the Huon Valley Food Hub
Archived plans
Videos
Future support for local food initiatives
Community members interested in local food initiatives can still work towards the Huon Valley Food Hub vision of ‘Providing Huon Valley food to all Huon Valley people’ by:
- Visiting local farm gates and markets.
- Supporting Huon Valley producers.
- Connecting with community food groups.
Useful food-related links
- Community Gardens Australia
- Eat Well Tasmania
- Gardeners Bay Farm
- Geeveston Community Grows
- Sparrowfoot Farm
- Sprout Tasmania
- Start with Seeds
For other local food networks, businesses and producers see the Huon Valley Council Local Directory.
Gallery
Questions
For enquiries about the Huon Valley Food Hub project or accessing archived materials:
Contact: Connected Communities team
Email: hvc@huonvalley.tas.gov.au
Phone: (03) 6264 0300