Serving up tasty local produce

Owners of Yamba’s Causley Fresh Yamba Jess and Karl Causley.

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• Fuelling the local aroma

ON Saturday, a busload of gourmands will experience the best foodie spots in the Clarence Valley under the watchful and wise guidance of star restaurant critic and food journalist Simon Thompson.

The tour is part of the Causley Fresh Gate to Plate celebration of local food and while all of the tickets have been sold, our readers can still experience it, less Simon Thompson.

Over the next few days, The Daily Examiner will be profiling each of the producers visited on the tour, starting with the major sponsors of the event, Causley Fresh.

Like many kids who grow up in the Valley, Karl Causley was itching to leave the place, so he travelled to Europe and stayed there for five years.

When he returned, he had a new appreciation for life in the Valley.

“I grew up on Chatsworth Island, and every now and then we would all get together, with every family bringing a plate filled with what was grown in their backyard,” he said.

“The kids would run around and the parents would watch while eating fresh and local produce. It was a great way to live.”

Making the decision to become a gold sponsor of the Gate to Plate was an easy one for Karl and his wife, Jess. They firmly believe it embodies that community spirit that centres on food.

“We feel the event embraces the agricultural background of the area, which is something I really respect.

“It is also really specific to the Valley. People know about the food scene in Byron or on the Northern Rivers. Sometimes we get lost in there and the Gate to Plate really brings attention to us. The event is unique and brilliant and it matches our business.”

Karl supports the event so solidly, his entire sponsorship and advertising budget is spent with the event.

Causley Fresh has grown recently to include the Causley Fresh Deli, the Causley Fresh Market and Causley Fresh Produce, all aiming to hit a different foodies spot.

Visit Causley Fresh in Yamba at Yamba Shopping Fair or in Maclean at 68 River St.