Market day a meeting of the like-minded
On March 19, the Nelson Regional Development Agency (NRDA) has arranged for a fantastic opportunity for producers in the Nelson Tasman regions.
The ANZ Market Day, in association with Visa, is a day for producers to get help to grow their businesses and also to showcase their products to the public later in the day.
The morning will focus on helping businesses grow while in the afternoon the Trafalgar Centre will have stalls set up so you and I can taste some of the beautiful products being made in our little piece of paradise.
It is also an opportunity for restaurants, cafes and others in the hospitality sector to meet producers, taste their products and, hopefully, do some business together to showcase Nelson produce in local hospitality venues.
A couple of weeks ago I met with Melissa Munro from NRDA to see what is happening in this space, her role is to help the food and beverage sector grow and to attract investment into the sector.
“For businesses to attract investment they need to have a sound business with owners who have the right skills, and, in a nutshell, that is what this day is about,” Munro said.
With support from ANZ, who are bringing the very successful programme developed and presented by the Visa Wellington On A Plate to Nelson, the NRDA has been working hard to ensure this programme that has been taken to other regions in New Zealand has now had Nelson added to the schedule.
“After a decade of Visa Wellington On A Plate and the Wellington Culinary Events Trust presenting the Wellington Producer Marketplace, and in 2023 delivering the session as the ANZ Producer Marketplace in Hawke’s Bay, 2024 will see an expansion where the initiative will be delivered in four to six regions across the country and we are super-excited they have included Nelson in the programmes for this year.”
The media release from the ANZ about this event says “the purpose of the ANZ Producer Marketplace event is to connect cafe’s, restaurants and other hospitality businesses with producers and to support a coherent strategy to turn New Zealand into a great food nation in the eyes of the world.
“A stepping-stone in achieving this for our region is the ANZ Producer Marketplace and Training Day, which has been run as the kick-off industry event of Visa Wellington On A Plate for the last decade.”
Before the marketplace event in the afternoon that is open to the public on March 19, producers, especially small to medium and emerging producers, can get involved in the ANZ Producer Marketplace training sessions.
These sessions are an opportunity for food and beverage producers to upskill in a range of business capabilities to grow their business.
There will be interactive training sessions on topics designed to help businesses grow, Munro said, with topics like getting your product on the shelves, cash flow advice and planning as well as a session on digital marketing diversification.
These will be run by experts in their field, she said, “people who have been doing this for the last 10 years for producers and hospitality businesses in Wellington and Hawke’s Bay”.
The very cool thing about this day, other than getting some great advice, is that it is totally free to attend, and in the afternoon, producers get the chance to interact with people who might buy their products, and that includes members of the public, not just people in the hospitality sector.
Some of my favourite local producers have already registered to take part and will have stands at the market in the afternoon.
People like Teena and Noël Jelsma from Neudorf Black who produce the most amazing and good-for-you black garlic products.
Mylene, Pete and a couple of their staff from Pete’s Natural Sodas will be there along with Kevin Taylor and Tracey Gray who produce and sell their Pealicious mushy peas ready to you to cook at home.
Both Nelson Honey and Mountain Valley Honey will be showcasing a range of naturally flavoured honeys, like manuka honey, rata honey and bush honey.
There will be others too, of course, but if you produce a food or beverage product in the Nelson-Tasman region, it isn’t too late to register for the training sessions and to showcase your products at the marketplace; just contact Melissa Munro at NRDA; melissa.munro@nelsontasman.nz or by phone 027 837 5962.