Connection To Freshness

Perfection Berries Bundaberg is among a number of agribusinesses across Australia partnering with OzHarvest and an A-list line-up of celebrity chefs including Manu Fieldel on a bold new project encouraging Australians to ‘share a plate with a mate’.

#Cook2Connect launched through MGI Entertainment also features products from brands such as Perfection Fresh, D’Orsogna, Kenwood, Nature Nate’s Honey, NH Foods Australia and Patak’s which will be used by the culinary clique in short films to be delivered across socials throughout September and October.

The pieces will see the products brought to life as Australia’s most-loved cooking icons bring viewers inside their kitchens, showing them how to prepare dishes that are meaningful to them, while they share the intimate memories behind the meals.

For Perfection Berries Bundaberg, it is a chance to see celeb chefs transform the Bundaberg-grown berries into nourishing recipes, inspiring Australians to share a meal with loved ones however they can and make a donation to Ozharvest, providing a meal to those in need.

As the name suggests, Perfect Berries Bundaberg grows blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and blueberries on a 21 hectare farm.

The old mango farm was transformed into a flowering orchard with fruit such as blueberries grown under protected tunnels to ensure quality.

This is helped by Bundaberg’s warm climate, with fruit grown between May and September and the peak supply for this farm now means viewers can easily create these dishes.

Amid record levels of loneliness and food insecurity throughout Australia, the videos will also have a timely call to action building on the success of MGI Entertainment’s campaign #HomeCooked last year, which also raised funds for OzHarvest, to deliver an additional 300,000 meals to Australians.

Byron Keane, general manager of content at MGI Entertainment, said consumers today wanted more from the brands that they engaged with.

“They want brands to be aligned with causes they care about and the thinking behind #Cook2Connect was to provide an avenue for brands to develop emotional connections with target consumers, while helping raise much-needed funds for OzHarvest,” he said.

Perfection Fresh CEO Michael Simonetta said Perfection Fresh was proud to be a part of the #HomeCooked campaign, so #Cook2Connect was a natural fit.

“As an Australian family-owned business for over 40 years, the campaign aligns with our mission to inspire a healthier world by connecting people to sustainable fresh food,” he said.

“We find more and more that consumers want to know exactly where their food comes from and feel a real connection with the farmers that make it happen.

“We have found that especially after the onset of Covid people are considering more and more where and how they are eating and are focused on that being provided locally wherever possible.

“Supporting charities like OzHarvest is something that we have always done and as an organisation we are proud to be able to help those that are less fortunate.

“This is a fun way to remind people of the fact that OzHarvest are building a sustainable food culture where everyone can access a fresh, nutritious meal.”

OzHarvest’s head of impact Ashley Killeen said there had never been such a high demand for food relief in Australia, with OzHarvest experiencing a 47 per cent increase over the past 12 months.

This article was originally published by Bundaberg Today, you can find the original here.

“The last year has been challenging for everyone and we’ve seen so many new people turning to charities for the first time in their lives,” she said.

“The generosity and support from the community has been amazing and we are so thankful MGI Entertainment and the #Cook2Connect campaign, helping to raise valuable funds.

“Every dollar donated allows us to deliver two meals to Australians in need.”

To make a donation to OzHarvest, visit www.ozharvest.org.