‘Geogastronomy’ is essentially the taste of a place. The term encompasses the unique character of foods (including brews and wines) produced within the borders of a geopark, as affected by the area’s special character including its soil, environment and climate as well as the stewardship of the land by its people over time. Waitaki’s food and wine is of a special character because of the limestone bedrock that gives the district its geological claim to fame and the wild Waitaki River that wets its whistle.
Celebrating this good taste, the Whitestone Geopark Trust is inviting Waitaki growers, producers and restaurateurs to attend the inaugural Waitaki Whitestone Geopark Geogastronomy Workshop. This will be a two hour workshop where participants will:
learn about the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark
learn about geogastronomy
have a chance to add their input and creativity to the geogastronomy offering
help design/define any rules that will apply to the geogastronomy brand
understand how the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark can help with marketing
Trust chair and Mayor for Waitaki Gary Kircher said, “The Waitaki district already has a very good reputation for excellent produce and wonderful restaurants and cafes. Geogastronomy is an opportunity to take that reputation to the world - helping grow high-value tourism, and allowing our primary producers to leverage off the UNESCO brand to market their quality products.”
Whitestone Geopark Manager Gerard Quinn said, “We’ve created a platform that the community can engage with and leverage their own futures and well-being. One of the first cabs off the rank is an industry sector who are being invited to directly contribute to a strategy that will outline how they can best benefit from this growing awareness of the internationally unique geology of the district, and its unique food and drink.”
Speakers will include some of the people behind the UNESCO application, with the emphasis on the collective power of food lovers and makers to tell the Waitaki story through area-specific produce. The workshop is planned for June.
To register your interest or for more information, email Glyn Duero at: sduero@waitaki.govt.nz
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