In a turn that has worried Australia’s food producers, the country’s level of food imports has shot up about A$1bn.
Total food imports are expected to hit a record A$8.5bn over the 2008/09 financial year, with fruit and vegetables the leading category by value at A$1.7bn, reported The Advertiser.
The figures have raised tension for local producers, who say cheap and often subsidised imported products will damage Australian industries.
“With the amount of land we have in Australia we can easily support our consumers and many others in the world,” said South Australian Farmers Federation chief executive Carol Vincent.
Australia horticultural exports have done better this year, largely on the back of a lower Australian dollar.
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