The Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association today welcomed Woolworths’ decision to source all its Select brand frozen vegetables from Australia from next year, with the bulk coming from Simplot’s Devonport processing plant.
“Whether the $16.5 million deal is sufficient to save Simplot we have yet to find out,” TFGA chief executive Jan Davis said. “But we would hope it would make a significant difference.”
“It is certainly a positive development when both major retailers commit to source their product from Australian growers. That is what we have been seeking as an industry and we urge Australian consumers to seek out those products that are identifiably Australian-grown,” Ms Davis said.
“Woolworths has said it would be paying more for the local product than it was paying for the current imports, and that it would absorb the extra costs. However, how that translates in prices to our growers remains to be seen. Farmers need to see the details as to expected volumes and planned price returns before they can realistically assess what is in it for them. We know that they simply cannot be the fall guys for lower and lower prices to supermarket customers,” Ms Davis added.
TFGA chief executive Jan Davis
