Greens launch plan to link farmers and consumers

The Australian Greens have proposed an $85 million plan to connect farmers directly with consumers to challenge the ‘supermarket duopoly’.

Greens leader Senator Christine Milne says the party will push for $85 million in grants over four years for infrastructure and initiatives such as farmers markets, community food box schemes, producer cooperatives, local food hubs and creating and marketing regional food brands.

“Farmers don’t have many options for selling their produce outside the low prices offered by the big supermarket chains,” Senator Milne said. “The Greens want to help farmers access infrastructure and markets so they can make a decent living off the land and improve our access to reasonably priced, fresh, local food.

“The communications revolution, particularly fast broadband, heralds a new era of direct connection between growers and consumers.”

“Regional food hubs are where small-scale farmers can store, package, pickle, juice and bottle their produce,” said Greens agricultural spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewer. “By sharing the equipment with other food producers they bring production costs down and improve their range of goods.

“Farmers’ cooperatives allow producers to band together to supply bigger contracts or start their own product lines with greater surety of supply than if they were working solo.

“Grant money could also be used to market a region for its products. Tasmania has a strong brand for high-quality food and wine, as do WA regions like the Margaret River. Other regions and their specialities need similar opportunities and the Greens will help them do that.”