The Shire’s Agribusiness and Food Industry Officer, Nick Young, had the pleasure of being interviewed by 3MP radio host, Julie Strini, at the 2023 Red Hill Show.
The Red Hill Show is an annual agricultural show run by a team of volunteers who make up the not-for-profit Red Hill Agricultural and Horticultural Society. Each year, thousands of people gather at this one-of-a-kind event to celebrate the local community and agricultural and horticultural activities on the Mornington Peninsula. The event promises entertainment, exhibitions, animal encounters, demonstrations and local producer and maker stalls for the whole family to enjoy.
Nick Young is part of the team that oversees Mornington Peninsula Produce (MPP), the Shire’s provenance trademark. MPP was a proud supporter of the Red Hill Show, with a set up at the Mornington Peninsula Paddock that featured a showcase of MPP members, workshops, local food and drink stalls and tastings.
MPP is an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) certified accreditation that acts as a way for consumers to easily identify produce that has been grown on the Mornington Peninsula. To become a member of MPP, farmers and food and beverage providers are required to undertake an application process.
It’s important for the growers because they feel like they belong to this group but also important for consumers to know where their food does come from and if someone says that it is grown here on the Peninsula, that it actually is.
When asked what, in his opinion, the Peninsula is most known for, Nick considers the region to be a food bowl for the Greater Melbourne area. This is due to a number of factors, such as the proximity of the Mornington Peninsula to the city, the region’s highly fertile soil and the existence of micro-climates, which is great for growing a variety of delights, from wine and garlic to vegetables, olive oil, berries and more. Nick’s personal tip for one of Peninsula’s best locally-grown treats – mushrooms!
Click the link below to listen to Nick Young’s, interview with 3MP radio host, Julie Strini