Food icon Maggie Beer has been recruited to help boost South Australia's reputation as a foodie's paradise.
Beer will advise the state government on policies to support the food manufacturing sector, with a particular focus on helping small and medium-sized producers reach new markets.
The former South Australian of the Year has achieved success with her own range of gourmet food products but says more needs to be done to support local food producers.
"It's a very tough game - (you need) very expensive equipment to be truly competitive and each company can't afford to do that," she told reporters on Thursday.
"There are things we have to go interstate for because there isn't the equipment here (so) collaboration is so important and we have to think as South Australians."
Beer, who came to fame as a co-host of the ABC television program The Cook and the Chef, says South Australia is home to the best produce in the nation.
However many small to medium-sized producers lacked the scale and know-how to grow their business.
"What we're lacking is that central repository of research and information and sharing with those that need to take the next step up," she said.
Manufacturing minister Susan Close says Beer is the obvious choice to advise the government on how to bolster food manufacturing.
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