February 25th, 2023Growers and producers wanted for new online collective

Growers and producers in Hepburn Shire and the Central Highlands region are being invited to enter their business details for free registration on a new online hub.

The new Central Highlands Growers Collective aims to help boost business, and support growers and producers to connect with each other and with customers.

“This is one of the outcomes of our three-year Artisan Agriculture Project, which aims to assist our local agriculture sector to navigate operational challenges and thrive into the future,” said Hepburn Shire Mayor, Cr Brian Hood.

“Businesses of all sizes can sign up to the Collective, but especially small-scale producers. If their produce is grown in our soil or produced in the Central Highlands region we invite them to sign up,” he said.

Lisa Allwood from Audrey’s Flowers at Musk Vale encouraged other producers and growers to join.

“Being part of the Central Highlands Growers Collective helps growers feel part of something bigger. Small scale farming is often a solo pursuit so feeling connected to other growers is a real positive. The Collective will help us to share knowledge and promote our local products to a wider audience,” said Lisa.

The Central Highlands region encompasses over 14,600 square kilometres and stretches along the Great Dividing Range from The Grampians in the west to the Lerderderg State Park in the east and from the Golden Plains in the south to The Pyrenees in the north. It includes Hepburn, Moorabool, Ararat, Pyrenees, Ballarat and Golden Plains areas.

The region supports a range of cropping, livestock and boutique growers and producers of a diverse and growing range of produce.

“For this hub to be successful we need local producers and growers to join the platform – it’s free and already profiles some wonderful local producers,” said Cr Hood.

Visit the hub and register your business at the Central Highlands Growers Collective.