Australia’s peak body for the apple and pear sector, Apple and Pear Australia, is encouraging consumers to support Australian growers by choosing local products over imported at the checkout.
Managing director of the industry body, John Durham is urging consumers to help secure a future for the Aussie industry by showing loyalty towards local producers.
“We produce food in this country to the highest standard in the world,” he told ABC Rural.
“Australian consumers need to recognise that and be prepared to pay a little bit more for it, because the alternative is to buy imported product.”
Durham said that Australia has very high food safety standards and these standards are not necessarily uniform in other countries.
“We don’t know what food safety standards apply to the production of that food, but we’re happy to buy it because it’s discounted by 10, 20 or 30 percent.
His comments have come as struggling producers in the Goulburn Valley region of Victoria prepare to rally today for support in the wake of SPC Ardmona’s decision last month to stop taking produce from local producers in favour of imported produce.