Chamber joins forces to grow foodie culture

THE Toowoomba Chamber Food and Agri Network provides a local platform designed to facilitate strong linkages and engagement across the city’s food and agri space – encouraging networking, food and farm experiences, education, and the promotion of local supply chain opportunities.

Cafes, restaurants, food outlets, retailers, local farmers, and food producers form an integral part of the Toowoomba food culture, our economy and FAN supports this incredible and valuable sector.

At the Toowoomba chamber we know we live in one to the best foodie destinations in the country.

We just want everyone else to know.

Our Local Food Directory highlights the enormous diversity of the food and agri space in our region.

It outlines the amazing breath of the industry.

The local fruit and vegetables, meat and protein, diary and eggs, herbs and speciality products, oils, and olives, preserves and honey, baked goods, nuts and chocolate and beverages and wine suppliers. All located right here in our region or on our doorstep. And we know there is still more to add!

But, last week, we took the opportunity to assist in turbocharging the promotion of the region as the foodie destination by joining forces with the city’s foremost digital platform dedicated to the unique food culture of Toowoomba and the Darling Downs, Dine Darling Downs.

Dine Darling Downs, developed by the dynamic Kristen O’Brien and the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce have joined forces to celebrate and rejoice in the regions dining cuisine and food production.

The launch of the new website builds on the amazing and dedicated work and commitment of Dine Darling Downs over the past six years and is the only website and directory dedicated solely to good food and dining in the region, with the concept fast gaining traction with thousands of visitors landing on the www.dinedarlingdowns.com.au each month.

The outreach achieved is incredible. The site regularly achieves over 100,000 impressions on social media and averages over 50,000 views monthly on the website.

It is through this platform that locals and visitors can find the best place to eat, drink, stay or play in our region. They can also seek out real authentic foodie experiences and can meet the wine makers, farmers, butchers, and chefs at regional foodie events.

The Toowoomba chamber saw this collaboration as the perfect opportunity to support the regions reputation locally, nationally, and internationally as a foodie destination like no other, while delivering unrivalled value to our members.

But the website does much more than that.

It plays a significant role in tourism. It features paddock-to-plate offerings and experiences. Highlights food tour and farm gate to plate events and puts on the spotlight on the region’s thriving restaurant and cafe scene. Enhancing our reputation as an iconic food tourism destination.

But wait there is more. Importantly, it links the work of the CBD Revitalisation Advisory Group by including a “What’s On” in Toowoomba page.

This is only the beginning. The website will continue to grow and evolve. All not possible without the vision of Kristen O’Brien of Dine Darling Downs. Kristen, we salute you!