IN the Country News publication (Tuesday, June 11) my attention was drawn to the headline ‘SPC will slash new season fruit intake’.
It is concerning to read that SPC, based in Shepparton, has advised growers that the intake of pears and peaches for processing for this coming season will be drastically cut.
The volume of pears will be reduced from 8800 tonnes to 4000 tonnes – a cut of 45.45 per cent, while peaches will be reduced from 15,000 tonnes to 10,000 tonnes – a massive 66.66 per cent reduction.
Fruit Growers Victoria grower services manager Michael Crisera, while expressing disappointment at the cuts, said: “The harsh reality is that retailers are preferring the imported product and their own home brands”.
An opinion expressed elsewhere in the article is that “one of the main reasons for the cut was the cost- of-living pressures impacting sales”.
I surveyed canned peaches and pears at a local supermarket.
It is clear that generic brands and imported products are present on the shelves, but so too are the SPC and Goulburn Valley varieties.
The home brands and imported varieties are primarily marked “Product of China”.
The price difference between an imported product and an Australian product is minimal – a mere $1.10 per 410g can.
Why would we sacrifice not only the growers, the future of the processing firm and employment opportunities for our fellow Australians by purchasing the imported product?
Every shopper has the power to support an Australian industry and Australian produce.
Next time at the supermarket, select Australian made – if not, one day we may not have that option.
Glenis Hawthorne,
Kerang
