Media Release
Powerhouse celebrates Western Sydney Food Producers
Powerhouse is thrilled to announce the launch of Powerhouse Food: Producers, a curated food program that showcases the rich and diverse food production landscape of Western Sydney.
Starting from August 27, each month the community is invited to join a series of intimate, behind-the-scenes events including farm and factory tours, workshops, demonstrations and larger collaborative dinners. Each will provide an up-close and personal insight into Sydney’s most innovative, contemporary food producers as they share stories of sustainability and entrepreneurship while fostering industry collaboration and community engagement.
Curated by Powerhouse Vitocco Kitchen Program Manager Xinyi Lim, the program will reveal the innovative processes, cultural histories and multi-generational journeys of our local food producers.
Meet Jane Vassallo, a fourth-generation farmer who reinvented her family’s lettuce farm into a haven for micro herbs and edible flowers now supplying to some of Sydney’s top restaurants or join Australian natural beekeeping pioneer Tim Malfroy for a wild honey tasting as he discusses the importance of bees and pollination in Western Sydney’s pristine Blue Mountains.
Take part in an insect-themed, multi-course dinner with Skye Blackburn, the visionary behind Australia’s largest and most advanced insect protein farm. Connect with the rich ecosystem of food businesses that comprise Sydney’s Little India with The Modern Desi’s Bhavna Shivalkar, and discover the dedication of Paul Aquilina and Gary Howard, passionate fishermen committed to sustainable prawn trawling and eel trapping on the Hawkesbury River.
The program also showcases the work of dairy farmers, organic herb and vegetable growers, orchardists, chocolate makers, truffle farmers, cheesemakers, artisanal food entrepreneurs and high-tech alternative protein manufacturers.
Powerhouse Food: Producers offers a window into the world of local food producers navigating the changing landscape of one of Australia’s fastest growing regions, connecting hyperlocal perspectives to wider global shifts in urban and peri-urban food production.
Vitocco Kitchen Program Manager Xinyi Lim says, ‘It has been a great honour to develop a program that platforms and celebrates food producers across Western Sydney, bringing their hard work, passion and ingenuity to the forefront. By highlighting their processes, traditions and innovations, Powerhouse Food: Producers will reveal the cultures, histories, relationships and communities that underpin how and what we eat.’
Powerhouse Chief Executive Lisa Havilah says, ‘We are deeply grateful to the Vitocco family for enabling this program to be delivered across Western Sydney. Powerhouse Food: Producers is not only a series of events but a dynamic exploration of the region’s producing evolution, providing a unique platform to connect with the innovators driving its growth, celebrate their stories and deepen our community’s connection of the local food producing landscape.’
For more information about Powerhouse Food: Producers, visit powerhouse.com.au
PROGRAM
Micro Herbs and Edible Flowers | Gourmet Herbs
Take a behind-the-scenes farm tour at Gourmet Herbs, followed by morning tea and a Q&A with owner Jane Vassallo.
Tuesday 27 August 8‒10 am Tickets $20
Gourmet Herbs, 107 Creek Ridge Road, Glossodia NSW 2756
Fruit, Juice and Cider | Cedar Creek Orchard
Take a tour of Cedar Creek Orchard and its bottling operation followed by a juice and cider tasting.
Saturday 14 September 10am‒12pm Tickets $20
Cedar Creek Orchard, 269 Mulhollands Road, Thirlmere NSW 2572
Growing Organic Produce | Rita’s Farm
Learn about growing organic herbs and vegetables in this 3-hour workshop including a farm tour and tasting session.
Sunday 20 October 1‒4pm Tickets $20
Rita’s Farm, 110 Bents Basin Road, Wallacia NSW 2745
Insect Tasting Menu | Circle Harvest
Enjoy a multi-course gourmet dinner enriched by the inclusion of locally farmed insect protein. Co-presented with Circle Harvest and Misc. Wednesday 20 November 6‒9pm Tickets $80
Misc, Little Coogee, Byrnes Avenue, Parramatta Park, Byrnes Avenue, Parramatta NSW 2150
Local Growers | Sydney Direct Fresh Produce
Join Sydney Direct Fresh Produce founder Luke Kohler on a tour of Sydney Markets to learn about Western Sydney fruit and vegetable growers.
Wednesday 11 December 5‒7am Tickets $10
Sydney Markets, West Road, Homebush West NSW 2150
Little India | The Modern Desi
A walking tour of Sydney’s ‘Little India’ led by Bhavna Kalra Shivalkar, also known as The Modern Desi, including tastings at local eateries.
Thursday 30 January 5‒7pm Tickets $30
SK Chaat and Pani Puri Corner 95 Wigram Street, Harris Park NSW 2150
The Artisans
Spend an evening with Western Sydney’s leading artisanal food entrepreneurs. Hear about challenges facing small-batch makers and their future visions.
Friday 21 February 5.30‒8pm Tickets $30
Drunken Sailor Canning Co, 4/4 Whitehead Court, Glendenning NSW 2761
Hawkesbury Fisheries | Paul Aquilina and Gary Howard
Hear a talk from two local licensed fishermen about the Hawkesbury River fishing industry and enjoy a local seafood tasting at Stix Farm.
Thursday 20 March 1‒4pm Tickets $30
Stix Farm, 600 Laws Farm Road, Cumberland Reach NSW 2756
Dairy | Camden Valley Farm
Tour Camden Valley Farm with owners Luke and Jess Micallef, then enjoy a cheesemaking demonstration on the farm with Goldstreet Dairy’s Colin Wood.
Sunday 6 April 1‒4pm Tickets $20
Camden Valley Farm, 8 Burragorang Road, Cawdor NSW 2570
Wild Honey | Malfroy's Gold
A 2-hour talk from natural beekeeping pioneer Tim Malfroy, with wild honey tastings and lunch featuring produce grown onsite at Stix Farm.
Sunday 25 May 10am‒1pm Tickets $30
Stix Farm, 600 Laws Farm Road, Cumberland Reach NSW 2756
Plant Proteins | Harvest B
Take a tour of Harvest B’s R&D and production facility followed by a cooking demonstration and tasting of their sustainable plant protein products. Wednesday 18 June 1‒3pm Tickets $20
The Manufactor, Unit 29, 2115–2131 Castlereagh Road, Penrith NSW 2750
Truffle Farming | Hartley Truffles
Learn about truffle cultivation with a farm tour and hands-on demonstration from Hartley Truffles owners Jane and Richard Austen.
Thursday 17 July 10am‒12pm Tickets $15
Little Hartley, NSW 2790
Media Contacts
About Powerhouse
Powerhouse sits at the intersection of arts, design, science and technology and plays a critical role in engaging communities with contemporary ideas and issues. We are undertaking a landmark $1.2 billion infrastructure renewal program, spearheaded by the creation of the new museum, Powerhouse Parramatta; expanded research and public facilities at Powerhouse Castle Hill; the renewal of the iconic Powerhouse Ultimo; and the ongoing operation of Sydney Observatory. The museum is custodian to over half a million objects of national and international significance and is considered one of the finest and most diverse collections in Australia. We are also undertaking an expansive digitisation project that will provide new levels of access to the Powerhouse Collection.
About Vitocco
The Vitocco family have partnered with Powerhouse to support the collection of South-west Sydney stories, including the ways in which community gather, prepare and share food. This support and investment enables projects such as Powerhouse Food: Producers to be developed, increasing access to the incredible ways in which we engage with food production and consumption, and how this is changing over time. The Vitocco family recognise the power of these stories and want to see more people throughout the region share and engage with the joy of food and the family connection it brings.