Queensland growers launch “eat Australian on Australia Day” promotion
Grower groups from Queensland and elsewhere are launching a national campaign encouraging people to “eat Australian-sourced food” on Australia Day, this Thursday 26 January 2012.
President of AgForce,the Queensland horticultural growers organisation, Brent Finlay, is launching the campaign with a presentation to the Deputy Prime Minister, Treasurer Wayne Swan, of a hamper of Australian produce. The Hamper is being described as a symbolic gesture of appreciation of Australian Government support following the flood disasters.
The official launch will take place tomorrow (Wednesday 25 January 2012), on the steps of Primary Producers House, in Brisbane. The event aims to encourage Aussies to “Eat Australian on Australia Day” and take a moment to consider the effort it took to get the food to the table.
AgForce Queensland, Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF), Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC), CANEGROWERS, Resource Consulting Services (RCS), Queensland Dairyfarmers Organisation (QDO), Tasmanian Farmers & Graziers Association (TFGA), Australian Prawn Farmers’ Association (APFA) and Growcom have worked together on the promotion.
Agforce’s Mr Finlay said, “After experiencing some of the worst climatic events in our history, Australian growers deserve to know they are being appreciated. Their work and their efforts are highly valued among the Australian community, and this is a terrific way to show it.”
A Facebook Page has also been created in support of the occasion, with agricultural organisations encouraging people to ‘like’ the page and add their own videos and photos to promote Aussie produce.
QFF President Joanne Grainger also said that 2012 would be the Australian Year of the Farmer and it was an especially important time to recognise the contributions of the agricultural sector.
“This Australia Day, whether people are enjoying wine, beer, a barbeque or a salad, Australian farmers are responsible for producing quality food, fibre and beverages for all Australians,” Ms Grainger said. “Australia Day is a perfect time for us all to be patriotic and support Australian farmers.”
I live on the Gold Coast where a huge part of this economy is controlled by woolworths or coles. There is a Woolworths on nearly every corner, causing small business in the area to close as they cannot compete. From butchers to fruit shops to liquor shops to florist shops service stations 7 elevens. If Companies like Woolworths and Coles have control of the market in the essential areas and they decide to buy Avocados from New Zealand, which i was horrrified to see on the shelves just recently and you have no alternative to buy else where because the competiotion has been put out of business what choice do we have. I only by essential items from Woolworths and refuse to by meat bread fruit and vegetables ect. I am one of these small businesses effected by them and I cannot understand how the local council can keep approving this. Something realy needs to be done before it is to late and we dont have Australian grown products that are fresh and not contaminated by overuse of pestisides ect. Come on Australians its not to hard to bypass and hunt down australian products