National Indigenous Times: Indigenous food and beverage products showcased at Perth trade fair

This article appeared on National Indigenous Times on 19 October 2024

Western Australian Indigenous food and beverage producers will be showcasing their products at the state's premium trade show, Meet the Buyer.

Now in its fourth year, Meet the Buyer is Western Australia's largest and most diverse showcase of WA food and beverage businesses.

Organised by the Buy West Eat Best team at the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Meet the Buyer will feature over 500 products from 80 exhibitors and attract more than 500 delegates on Tuesday, 22 October from 10am to 3:30pm at the Crown Perth Grand Ballroom.

Delegates include decision makers from Coles, Woolworths, IGA, speciality grocers, hospitality groups, aged care facilities, hotels, food educators and media.

Perth-based Prepare Produce Provide will showcase its newly launched social enterprise product, Kepa Kwab (Beautiful Water), a beverage designed to raise money for the not-for-profit organisation.

Kepa Kwab is a canned non-alcoholic soda flavoured with ethically sourced native Australian traditional botanicals in consultation with leading Elder and bushfood specialist Dale Tilbrook.

The development of Kepa Kwab involved over 100 Indigenous youth who were involved in the entire process from designing the artwork on the cans, foraging, the Swan River story and song, the launch event and flavour profiling in conjunction with renowned chef Rohan Park.

Prepare Produce Provide runs programs across WA with a vision to inspire vulnerable Indigenous youth to reach their potential through innovative food programs and hospitality.

Prepare Produce Provide founder and educator Cath MacDougall said developing Kepa Kwab has a dual purpose.

"As an organisation, we'd like to be self-sufficient and stop relying on grants," Ms MacDougall said.

"Developing Kepa Kwab this way with young people, gives them incredible real-world experience even if it takes twice as long and presents many curve balls, it's worth it when you see the kids empowered."

Ms MacDougall said at Meet the Buyer they are hopeful that decision makers will try, buy and distribute Kepa Kwab.

Almost 70 percent of respondents to the 2023 Meet the Buyer survey said their attendance had resulted in a positive commercial outcome, whether it was finding new stockists or gaining more knowledge about how to improve their chances of getting their products into the market or business to business connections.

Another company hoping to have their products noticed by major retailers is Jila Water Solutions, proudly 100 percent Aboriginal owned and a supplier of pure bottled water and four different flavoured coffee beans.

Jila Water Solutions chief executive Saturn Turnbull said this is the second time the company has attended Meet the Buyer.

"We've changed our packaging to be more aligned with our organisation and added bar codes so its retail-ready," Ms Saturn said.

"Our water is pure water, it's not spring water, which means that the pH-level doesn't change during transport, and it tastes better."

Jila Water will be distributed to trade show delegates.

Roogenic, a producer that partners with naturopaths and Indigenous communities to create native teas and superfood powders, and Tucker Bush, a local grower of native edible plants, will also exhibit at Meet the Buyer.