Check & Choose urges shoppers to always select Australian-grown vegetables
Ausveg has launched ‘Check & Choose ’, a new campaign encouraging shoppers to check the country of origin when buying frozen and canned vegetables in their regular shop, and to select Australian-grown.
CEO Michael Coote said the initiative, running online and through Ausveg communication channels, is about making sure Australian-grown, value-added products are front of mind with Australian shoppers.
“In the continuing cost-of-living crisis, we know that consumers are switching to frozen and canned products because they are convenient, cost effective, and may reduce at home wastage,” he said.
“Australian consumers want to be confident that their grocery purchases meet the rigorous food safety and ethical standards they have come to expect in Australia. Remembering to check the country of origin and using this information when choosing products is the best way to ensure your food is safe, sustainable and ethical.
“Checking and choosing products to ensure they are made with Australian vegetables is especially important for packaged and frozen foods, as more and more of these products are imported. We’re lucky that in Australia 98 percent of the fresh vegetables consumed here are grown by Australian vegetable growers, but we need to ensure the whole industry is viable to ensure productive, viable Australian vegetable growers and food manufacturers in the long term.”
Current regulations under the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) require labels to disclose whether the product was grown, produced, made or packed in Australia, and the proportion of Australian ingredients. According to Ausveg, the green kangaroo triangle logo is the best way to recognise products that are of Australian origin.
Coote said supporting Australian growers was particularly important at a time when the industry is facing increased competition from imported frozen and canned vegetable products and compounding years of challenging operating conditions.
“Choosing Australian-grown vegetable products supports the Australian vegetable industry, which is especially important as growers continue facing significant challenges that are threatening their viability and Australia’s food security,” he said.
“(Our) Ausveg grower surveys reveal that 88 percent report being financially worse off than they were a year ago, and unviable returns remain a top five reason for growers intending to leave the industry, an issue exacerbated by having to compete with cheap imported frozen and canned products.
“Alarmingly, four out of five growers are considering leaving the industry in the next 12 months or would consider leaving if they had a viable exit strategy. Supporting Australian vegetable growers is vital for safeguarding the industry and the country’s food security.”
