Stay local

THE rejection of an application from a local doughnut maker by Carnival of Flowers organisers has the smell of something other than sugar and spice.

Instead it is the stink of money which always occurs when events grow, cease being local and chase the big bucks.

This has happened to the Food and Wine Festival, once a casual and relaxed venue for a family night. It has become a crowded, cramped event with headline acts and priced out of the reach of many local pockets.

Smaller communities value local events and put their residents and businesses first. That is what a community event is.

When the money and the professional managers move in to a local community, the professionals can decide locals take second place to those from outside the region.

I agree that standards should be as high as possible, but the reasons given for rejecting the local doughnut maker don’t hold water.

Firstly, the local firm has a licence to make a product but is not a franchise. Why should a Byron Bay doughnut maker has preference for this reason?

How many other vendors have a licence of some kind from a supplier in order to operate? That is how business works more often than not, because the supply chains are often controlled. There are few true free market places operating with increased vertical integration of production.

Secondly, management of large events needs to be more transparent and the power of veto to remain in local hands.

Thirdly, local preference should be first, or at least be south east country origin considering that is how it is promoted.

Only if a local can’t be found, or there is an overwhelming reason for rejection, should the event be opened up to outside suppliers.

Or perhaps we just don’t need doughnuts, enough dough will already be made.

GEOFF ADAMS, Toowoomba