On The Land
9 November, 2025
Program connecting growers
A PILOT program aimed at making it easier for small to medium-scale farmers to sell their products locally is underway.
The Collaborative Logistics Pilot was launched in September as part of the Atherton Tablelands Integrated Collaboration (ATIC) managed by Sustainable Table.
It is assisting growers to get their food onto the plates of local eaters and is aiming to be an alternative to sending the region’s produce south to major markets, which is sent back and sold in the Far North at a higher cost and with many more food miles.
The pilot is testing shared storage and delivery models to make the local food system more efficient, resilient, and connected.
Rather than starting from scratch, the project makes use of existing delivery infrastructure, building on what’s already working.
“We’re doing delivery runs of up to 400km each on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Produce delivered so far includes potatoes and sweet potatoes, pineapples, papaya, microgreens, coconuts, bananas, pumpkins, mushrooms, and finger limes,” Collaborative Logistics driver Tom O’Connor, from Golden Oak Produce at Upper Barron, explained.
“The feedback has been fantastic.
“Chefs want to see a lot more in-region produce, and as soon as we popped up with a few samples and new connections we could make, there’s been just an overwhelmingly positive response to that.”
The pilot makes use of a hired cold room in Atherton, where farmers can drop off their produce for collection by Golden Oak Produce. Other produce is collected directly from farms.
The fresh food is then delivered to various locations across the Tablelands from Ravenshoe in the south, through to towns including Mareeba, Kuranda and Julatten, as well as along the coast from Innisfail to Mossman, with a particular focus on Cairns and Port Douglas hospitality markets.
Kuranda Wholefoods owner Louisa Casino said the pilot had been beneficial to her business.
“This logistics pilot has allowed us to spend more time in the business with our customers. It has also allowed us to support more local growers. My stress levels have reduced too,” she said.
Far North growers who are interested in local markets, or retail outlet or hospitality businesses who want to access more local produce directly from farms, can contact Sustainable Table’s FNQ Food Activator Bel Moore – belinda@sustainabletable.org.au or 0419 760 759.
