Penrith Producers on show

A series of new videos featuring Penrith Producers highlights the depth of talent within Penrith New West.

Businesses in Penrith New West produce a wide array of food and beverages, from chocolate through to organic vegetables. These range from start-ups, to family businesses, to international exporters and social enterprises.

Montecatini, the Italian smallgoods manufacturer in Penrith, is passionate about creating innovative new products. Despite the business having 60 years of experience to draw from, Manager of Montecatini, Giovanni Melosi, identifies the need to continue to move with the times; “Our company is all about innovation. We’re not just sticking to what we know…There are a lot of products that we do, that no one else does”.

Zokoko is one of only around 20 chocolate makers in Australia, and they chose to base their operations in Emu Heights. Michelle Morgan, Zokoko co-owner, notes the importance of the local area in the success of the business; “the Penrith region has really supported us with a lot of our local customers coming back time after time.” With Penrith New West’s growing population projected to continue well into the next decade, producers like Zokoko can expect to benefit from the increasing local consumer base that will provide.

In complete contrast and demonstrating the diversity of businesses in the New West, Penrith is also home to organic vegetable growers Cana Farm. The 100-acre farm in Orchard Hills creates an impressive list of products including organic veggie boxes, soya candles, olive oil, chutneys, honey and jams, but for manager Danielle Seisun “Cana Farm is all about creating hope”. The social enterprise employs disadvantaged workers, providing them with connections to the community within a working structure.

The public can gain new insights into some of these producers through a series of videos released by Penrith Producers, a Council initiative. Council’s Penrith Producers events started as a market-style event in the City Centre and were highly successful allowing locals to experience firsthand the variety of produce that is created in Penrith City. With COVID restrictions preventing similar events in 2020, this video series brings the producers front and centre in a digital setting.

To view the videos go to Council’s YouTube Channel 

Image: Giovanni Melosi from Penrith's Montecatini