Media releaseAugust, 2025
The Mid North Coast’s food, beverage and agriculture sector will take centre stage at Gather & Grow: Celebrating Coffs’ Food Future on Tuesday 2 September at Yarrila Place. The event will bring together producers, growers, chefs, café owners, restaurateurs, brewers, manufacturers, distributors, educators and students from across the Coffs Coast, Dorrigo, Nambucca, Bellingen and Grafton. It is a chance to reconnect, celebrate achievements, share ideas and strengthen the future of agrifood in the region.
Guests can look forward to an inspiring afternoon of tastings, industry showcases, panel discussions and networking. Local champions will share their stories of building food businesses from the ground up, reflecting on the importance of collaboration, skills development and community support. One Coffs business will outline its approach to addressing skills shortages and developing local talent, while the Food Innovators panel will highlight how producers are diversifying, adding value and building stronger brands. The afternoon will also mark the conclusion of the Coffs Agrifood Living Lab (CALL) project, with a presentation of its key findings and the release of the Precinct Business Case.
Well known Australian food journalist and television presenter Jane de Graaff will MC the event. A Coffs local, Jane is best recognised as the resident kitchen expert on Channel Nine’s Today Show, Today Extra and Weekend Today. With her trademark warmth and passion for food, she will guide conversations with an impressive line-up of panellists including Richmond Rodrigues of Aanuka Beach House, winner of Australian Professional Chef of the Year 2025, Shaun Tholen of Nambucca Macnuts, Georgina Baker of Bello Beef and Levenvale Farm, Laura Gonzales of Peach & Wolf Bakery, and Gill Robson of C.ex Coffs.
The program begins at 3pm with networking, produce sampling and expo stands, before moving into panel sessions and presentations from 4pm until 5.45pm.
Gather & Grow is open to anyone connected to the food and agribusiness community, from growers and producers through to distributors, retailers, chefs, café owners, educators and students. The afternoon is not only a celebration but an opportunity to build stronger networks, share experiences, reflect on challenges and opportunities, and spark new collaborations that will strengthen the region’s food sector into the future.
Event details:
Gather & Grow: Celebrating Coffs’ Food Future
Tuesday 2 September 2025 | 3pm – 5:45pm
Yarrila Place, Coffs Harbour
Register here: gather-and-grow.eventbrite.com.au
This event is a collaboration between CALL partners Future Food Systems, City of Coffs Harbour and Queensland University of Technology.