The Australian Greens have announced an $85 million plan to help farmers bypass the big two supermarket chains and sell direct to local consumers.
The $85 million over four years would help set up farmers’ markets, food box sales, farmers’ co-operatives, regional marketing and food hubs.
“This announcement was one of the best incentives and ideas to help rural farmers get back some of their hard-earned costs that the supermarket duopoly has taken away from them,” Greens candidate for Maranoa Grant Newson said.
“There are already a growing number of local markets that sell produce direct and this plan will boost the capacity and ability for more farmers to join in and cut out these profiteering large supermarket chains.
“The Maranoa electorate has a huge variety of goods available and if we can start pooling resources, I believe prosperity will return because money will be paid direct to farmers instead of the pittance they receive in compensation from the duopoly.
“Far too often you see mass destruction of orchards, mounds of fruit left to rot and farmers walking off their land due to unprofitable payment for their goods from the supermarkets, all while they continue to import the same products from overseas.
“That is just wrong and should stop.”
