Backing our artisanal sector in victoria

The Andrews Labor Government is backing our artisanal sector across Victoria, today announcing the first of more than fifteen grants to support producers expand their businesses.

Pink Muesli will benefit from a $5,000 grant from the Labor Government, which will help the business upgrade their production equipment from household grade to industrial.

Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford announced the grant with Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas while visiting the Daylesford Farmers’ Market site today.

Pink Muesli produces unique, premium, hand-made vegetable muesli using ingredients from two local organic farmers, with beetroot-based recipes which gives the muesli its distinctive pink colour.

The grant will better enable the business to meet demand and interest from domestic and overseas markets.

This is the first of more than $32,000 in grants to be announced this week to help artisanal businesses with skills and training, equipment and small-scale projects and services.

The grants opened for applications in September to address the immediate needs of artisanal producers to make essential small-scale investments in equipment, skills and services that result in business growth or improvements.

Artisanal businesses can still apply for stage one artisanal sector grants of up to $5,000 until 31 January 2019.

Expressions of interest for stage two grants are now being accepted. Stage two grants will fund larger scale projects, with applications to open in the first half of 2019.

For more information and to apply for a grant, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/artisanag

Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford
"Pink Muesli is the first and only vegetable muesli in Australia and has worked hard to create a niche product which so many Victorians are enjoying."

"Our artisanal sector program is about supporting businesses like Pink Muesli build and expand and diversify and its fantastic to see them doing exactly that."

Quote attributable to Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas
"Our region is home to some of the best produce our state has to offer. This grant will help Pink Muesli produce more of their fantastic product."