Husband and wife team Frank Coorey and Zoe Lamont and children Alice and Freddie want city people to try their food. Photo: Farm Door Riverina.
A weekend of events that will showcase the quality fresh food and produce on offer throughout the Riverina is expected to attract hundreds of visitors.
“Historically, one of the Rotary groups ran an annual food and wine festival here, but that doesn’t happen anymore,” says Zoe Lamont, owner of ready-made meal supplier Farm Door Riverina.
“So, a few growers and producers got our heads together and said, ‘We live in the food bowl, we need to host a food festival at least once a year.’”
Ms Lamont has joined forces with producers from around the region and will co-host the Riverina Good Food Weekend, which will be held on Saturday 20 September and Sunday 21 September.
“There are two main events. On the Saturday, we have these internationally renowned chefs called Terra Firma at our family farm. They are cooking local ingredients over coals; it’s a sit-down long lunch for 250 people,” Ms Lamont said.
“On the Sunday, there’ll be a free family event where you follow a trail and drive across Junee, Temora, Coolamon and Wagga Wagga for pop-up tastings, kids workshops, tractor rides, flower picking and feasting around every new corner.”
Ms Lamont and husband Frank Coorey are supported by Tim McMullen from Borambola Wines, Jake Eaglesham from Riverina Gin, Rachel Fowler from The Press, Sarah Hope of Destination Riverina Murray and local beekeepers, chocolatiers and cheese makers, mushroom farmers, olive oil growers, bakers and graziers.
“We’d encourage locals to attend and invite a city friend to come along. We want to show them all we have to offer,” Ms Lamont said.
“You can’t beat a roast lamb in the Riverina. But you’d also be surprised by what’s grown here; we have a wonderful avocado farm in Barham, some great honey producers and a lot of boutique items grown like mushrooms – good ones, not like those that have been in the news lately.”
Ms Lamont says you can’t beat the fresh food produce in this area. Photos: Farm Door Riverina.
While big chain supermarkets dominate food sales across Australia, Ms Lamont wants people to know there’s a higher quality alternative.
“We’re extraordinarily fortunate to live in a food bowl, yet so much of our produce is shipped out then as locals we buy it back in again, with multiple middle men profiting in between,” Ms Lamont said.
“At a time when farming and regional manufacturing is facing real challenges, the Riverina Good Food Weekend initiative is about connecting our local growers and makers with both locals and city visitors. It’s about the opportunity to taste produce fresh off the farm or coals and to meet the people and feel the love and magic behind the scenes.”
Farm Door Riverina stopped supplying their locally made meals to supermarkets in November 2024 and, for the first time since pre-COVID, recorded profitable months in early 2025.
Natasha Del Bon, who works with her Leeton-based father Frank running Morella Grove, will also be showcasing her produce.
“At Morella Grove, provenance is everything; when you choose local and regional producers, you’re not just buying food, you’re investing in community, culture, and the stories behind each ingredient. Supporting initiatives like the Riverina Good Food Weekend allows us to showcase the richness of our region and celebrate the farmers and makers who bring authentic Australian flavours to life,” she said.
The Riverina Long Lunch & Good Food Weekend is supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. This funding has enabled the Sunday Drive to be a free community event.
Tickets for the Riverina Good Food Weekend can be purchased from the Farm Door Riverina website.
