By KATE BANVILLE
THE fight for the survival of Australia’s fresh produce industry is stepping up with a peak farming body launching a year long campaign to re-engage communities in the process of getting food from the paddock to their plate.
Titled ‘We Give a Fork’, the Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers campaign has been designed as a call to action for farmers and consumers to unite.
CEO Rachel Chambers said the industry body representing Queensland fruit, vegetable, and nut growers could no longer remain quiet on a ‘lack of understanding or interest’ from government officials whose decisions resulted in on-farm consequences.
“At the moment, the government intervention that they have sought to enact is a whole lot of extra costs on growers,” Chambers said.
“Already in the pipeline are extra costs which may be incurred by the end of this year with the changing of the Level 1 Horticulture Award to Level 2 Horticulture.”
Chambers also pointed to recent and future rule changes to the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme (PALM) saying it’s become problematic for business, despite many farmers initially welcoming it as a lifeline for workforce shortages.
Since its introduction the scheme has proven to be a delicate balance of diplomacy between Australia and participating nations, with the scheme’s imperfections recently reaching another pain point following Fiji’s announcement to join others in reducing involvement.
The latest adjustment by the Federal Government designed to better protect workers has also resulted in increased employers’ regulatory, compliance and cost burdens.
It’s left many farmers searching for staff outside the plan, if at all as they consider running a reduced workforce in an effort to offset surging input costs on fuel, freight and fertiliser.
“All that comes with a cost burden to the growers,” Chambers said.
“Profitability is definitely of the most concern at the moment.
“They’re actually not even paying themselves and instead they’re eating into their super, their savings and their capital and have been doing that for years and for many there’s nothing left.”
The recent campaign launch held in Brisbane coincided with a moment of recognition for the organisation reaching a major milestone of 100 years.
However there would be no major event, with planned celebrations called off earlier in the year due to the dire situation for farmers.
Chambers said the campaign was a much needed two-way conversation for the public to demonstrate a desire to secure the future of fresh fruit, vegetables and nuts being grown locally, as much as it was an opportunity for growers to provide insights of the produce they grow, the people they employ, the businesses they operate and the communities in which they live and work.
“We would not be launching a campaign if we thought that we were making progress with closed door government meetings,” Chambers said.
“We’re writing submissions, we’re sending letters and we’re having a general voice to government.
“We’re not making any inroads at all and there is no understanding of the seasonality on nuances of horticulture, and that’s what we’re trying to change.”
Support the Country Caller’s independent journalism by becoming a member. CLICK HERE:
Shane Fitzgerald grew up on a crop farm in the Lockyer Valley before digging deeper into soil chemistry and agronomy research.
The Queensland based agronomist said he was happy to be featured in the campaign launch because of his concern for an industry under immense pressure physically and financially.
The latest findings by AUSVEG suggested 34 percent of farmers surveyed nationally were considering exiting the industry completely within 12 months.
Fitzgerald (pictured) said growers would like to get a fair return for what they do, and that without them jobs like his would disappear.
“Not every business deserves to be in business and we know you have to earn that right,” he said.
“But we work across a wide range of industries and I have never seen such a wide range of industries all stressed at the same time.
“It’s unprecedented yet at the same time there is an enormous appetite for investment in Australian agriculture.
“Growers don’t mind taking on risk but they want to get to a point where they can get a fair day’s pay for doing the work.”
For more information on how to join the campaign and show ‘We Give a Fork’, visit www.qfvg.au or by searching Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers on social media.