Sustainable Tourism Opportunity With A ‘No’ To Wasting Food

Jo Bumbak, from Carnarvon, WA, hates waste. For years Jo, mother of three, watched tonnes of fruit and vegetables left to rot. Apparently 40-60% of a crop can go this way if it is ‘imperfect’ – although perfectly edible – as the market demands perfection! The WA RRR Network News reports this story.

Jo’s Business Uses The ‘Waste’

In 2000 Jo was selling mangoes at a roadside stall. Today her business, Bumbak’s Preserves, Icecreams & Plantation Tours, preserves plantation fruits and vegetables, in their prime, producing:

• 95 types of preserves
• 10 fruit icecreams
• dried fruits and roll-ups
• frozen mango
• fruit smoothies
• a range of cakes, muffins, biscuits and confectionery

Jo Leads A Carnarvon ‘No Waste Initiative’

Currently 15 plantations are supporting sustainability and Jo’s ‘No Waste Initiative’ by selling ‘waste’ product to Bumbak’s for value adding. The value has been appreciated and Jo has won awards for both her food products and also her home-based business. Top Perth chefs use Jo’s products.

Other Local Women Starting Businesses Are Supported

Jo’s Plantation Shop, at 449 North River Road, Carnarvon, helps women starting out in business with collaborative marketing and the sharing of resources – in her shop she sells:

• Bees Knees Aromatherapy products
• Tickled Pink homemade soaps, lip balm and body scrubs
• Outback Essences

Carnarvon Tourism Product

Since 2007 Jo has run a Plantation Tour for tourists of all ages. She includes those who have been involved in the evolution of the horticultural industry and growing techniques and she addresses aspects of irrigation which show how Carnarvon growers are practising the ‘best water saving techniques in Australia’.

Jo is active in helping develop the Carnarvon Tourism Strategy: ‘Bumming Around Carnarvon’ takes visitors to local attractions and introduces them to the Gascoyne Food Trail.

You can contact Jo at: Email bumbak@wn.com.au; Telephone 08 9941 8006

Well done Jo!