There's now a mandatory code of conduct for supermarkets --let's hope it helps. Thank you #730Report and Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) for including Good & Fugly in your coverage of this critical issue for #farmers and #consumers. Proud to have helped push this forward.
Watch the segment here: https://lnkd.in/g-ghabxJ
Here's a shortened transcript:
Sallie Jones, Gippsland Jersey: Gippsland Jersey was created in 2016. We are a little milk brand that is all about paying farmers a fair price.
We are supplying to a number of Woolworths stores and Coles. It’s an amazing opportunity because most of the people in the population shop at these supermarkets, so you need to be where they are.
Charles Thomas, National Farmers' Federation: There was always this perception that that person was obviously appointed by the supermarkets and couldn’t be fully trusted by the growers in raising their concerns.
Nick McKim, GREENS SENATOR: A mandatory code of conduct will help farmers and that’s a good thing, but it will do nothing to bring down food and grocery prices for shoppers who are being price gouged.
Richard Tourino and Jonathan Englert have made a business out of selling the 25 per cent of vegetables that don’t leave the farm.
They were disappointed the review didn’t do more to address the aesthetic standards supermarkets adopt.
JONATHAN ENGLERT, GOOD AND FUGLY: We thought that if there was a focus on allowing a wider range of produce, meaning things that weren’t as perfect into the mix, then that would help farmers, it would help consumers, and it would be a much faster path probably to helping in the affordability space.
WILL MURRAY: The recommendations do include that fresh produce standards and specifications must be reasonable, but Rich and Jonathan think that’s too vague to make any real difference.
RICHARD TOURINO, GOOD AND FUGLY: If the supermarkets were forced to loosen their specs, the farmers would get paid more for the work they do, they’d be able to sustain cheaper prices as well, which obviously means the consumer would benefit.
WILL MURRAY: The National Farmers Federation says any measures to improve the health of the agriculture industry will help keep prices down.
CHARLIE THOMAS: 37 per cent of vegetable producers are considering walking away from the industry. Now ultimately if you have fewer farmers farming, that’s less supply of fresh Aussie produce coming onto our shelves, that can only push prices up.
SALLIE JONES: Every little bit will help, so we’re heading in the right direction.
But the call to action is about the consumer, the Australian people showing up and demanding that the supermarkets stock Australian owned and made products.
Farmers love what they do, but they also can’t do it for free.
Saveful Thankful AUSVEG Nutrition Australia
