Enterprises — Fiona J Walsh

Commercial trade in bush foods has been sustained by the work of women from Central Australia. Ilkerte is one of about sixteen regional Acacia species, here harvested and cleaned for trade in 2018.

Events where women can see and taste products helps understanding of their roles in the market chain. Demand for bush food products and associated stories expand with product range diversification.

Workshops link traders and harvesters to share information, here Rod Horner demonstrates a method to clean Akatyerr (Desert raisin, Solanum centrale) .

Women from Ampilawatja harvest Ilkerte for sale. At CSIRO Fiona and Josie Douglas researched and documented small-scale commercial trade 2005 - 2009.

A young generation learns as older people speak at a 2018 NT Government and CLC event co-facilitated by Fiona. Teacher Ada Beasley and MLA Chansey Paech explain their poster.

Applies expertise and practice in bush food and medicine product development, supply and market connections

Facilitation and research to identify local people’s choices, skills and opportunities
Assess local ecological resources and market potentials
Review past, existing and potential bush food, bush medicine and other enterprises
Record knowledge that ‘value-adds’ and combines products with their stories