CALLING OUR HOME-GROWN MUSICIANS, BANDS, FOOD PRODUCERS AND PROVIDERS.

Do you make a mean mussel fritter? Are you brewing beer locally? Are you growing your own produce to sell? If you're a Coromandel food and beverage producer or grower who wants to promote your product either nationally or internationally - we want to hear from you.

Last month we had Brett O'Reilly the Chief Executive ofAUCKLAND TOURISM EVENTS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (ATEED) and a group of his staff tour the Coromandel looking at developing opportunities and links between our District and Auckland.

"As well as being blown away by the Coromandel scenery Brett and his team were really impressed with the local food and hospitality," says Whangamata Area Office Manager Garry Towler, who arranged the trip.

"One of the activities we provided was getting the group out on the MUSSEL BARGE SNAPPER SAFARIS near Coromandel Town," says Mr Towler. "Along with a great day out on the water the group sampled the local mussel fritters which they enjoyed immensely."

"Bringing ATEED to the Coromandel enabled them to experience first-hand our aquaculture, our niche food and horticulture industries," says Mr Towler. "The group all agreed there are some really good opportunities to promote the Coromandel product to the Auckland market and beyond," says Mr Towler. "We're now arranging to work more closely with ATEED on how we can capitalise on these opportunities."

Wendy Voeglin, one of the people from the ATEED group, specialises in rural development and the home-grown food and beverage market. She has also been involved in Auckland's successful bid to stage the 2017 WORLD FOOD TRAVEL SUMMIT. Held every two years, the World Travel Summit and Expo is the largest gathering of food and drink tourism professionals. ''

"Wendy was really impressed with the niche food and beverage market on the Coromandel and sees lots of ways she can bring international food writers and chefs to the Coromandel and promote food tourism within our District," says Mr Towler.

So we now want to put together a database of local food producers and providers who would like to promote and showcase their products.

"The database will list the contacts and details of local home-grown and niche food and beverage providers. The information will be shared with ATEED but also promoted through Destination Coromandel for food tourism opportunities as well as on our TCDC website.

If you want your business to be included on our database please send your contact details, a description of what you offer and any website information to Council's COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING MANAGER LAURNA WHITE.

IF YOU'RE A LOCAL MUSICIAN OR BAND WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU TOO.

We're also working with our Regional Tourism OperatorDESTINATION COROMANDEL to create a database for professional musicians and bands from the Thames-Coromandel District.

"We want to promote and support our home-grown talent so that when someone is setting up an event, a festival or even a wedding they can click onto the database and connect with our local artists," says Destination Coromandel Manager Hadley Dryden.

"Many festival and event organisers may not realise we have a vibrant and talented music industry, so if we can provide a one-stop shop to let them know what we have to offer it's of benefit to everyone," says Mr Dryden.

The database will also provide an opportunity for local artists to connect and network.

If you're interested in being listed on the database - which will be a link on our Council's website please email your details and any online links to COUNCIL'S COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING MANAGER LAURNA WHITE.

ENDS

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