A new Wanaka-based business launched this week to showcase local food producers, growers, artisans and farmers in the Central Otago region.

Forage & Feast Food Adventures, the brainchild of local food aficionado Naomi Lindsay, will provide immersive culinary adventures for locals and visitors.

Starting out with half and full day adventures around Wanaka and Hāwea, Forage & Feast aims to educate and inform consumers about the skills, effort and time-honoured practices that go into producing locally grown, slow cooked food.

“Food has long been a passion of mine and with a background in communications, marketing and tourism it was the natural next step to combine these skills to create Forage & Feast,” director Naomi Lindsay said.

Guests learn about the wild medicinal and food flora growing under their noses with forager Rochana Moon.

“There is amazing, locally-produced food here in Wanaka, and behind every producer lies a story: this new venture will be all about showcasing this incredible side of our region.”

Naomi will take people around Wanaka and Hāwea meeting the farmers, foragers, growers, herders, butchers, bakers, apiarists and more to find out more about their food journey. A seasonal wild walk will also highlight the edible foods and medicinal plants growing locally.

Eating a lunch cooked by local cooks and chefs in a unique location, using ingredients collected that day and goods locally grown or made, is the highlight of both adventures.

Forage and Feast director Naomi Lindsay at Pirate Produce, Lake Hāwea.

The half day adventure takes in five immersive culinary experiences, while the full day features seven, and around 15-18 local products are tasted in total.

Naomi also plans to deliver a series of regular food workshops, pop-up dinners, and events to meet the people behind our food community and connect foodies.

A percentage of profits from Forage & Feast will be gifted to local community groups including Food For Love and Community Networks, as well as national charity Eat New Zealand, that supports the New Zealand food industry. Forage & Feast will also provide Tiaki Bees beehives to local schools and groups to aid with education and fundraising, and will support Grow Wanaka and the Hāwea Food Forest with their work.

Find out more here.

PHOTOS: Supplied