Plan to help SW growers 'stay on the land'

Small to medium-sized growers could receive an $85 million helping hand to trade directly with consumers if the Greens get its way after the upcoming Federal election.

The $85 million plan will provide grants from July 2014 to help farmers create more farmer’s markets, mobile markets and community food box schemes.

The Greens believe farmers are not getting decent farm gate prices and that supermarkets are putting downward pressure on prices paid to farmers.

Greens Senator Scott Ludlam said the plan was about helping growers stay on the land.

“Once it has been established it allows a brand for the region to be established and could provide marketing prominence,” he said.

Donnybrook and Balingup shire president Steve Dilley said he could see the benefits but was not sure it would work.

“It’s a wonderful ideology as farmer’s markets do play an important part in helping consumers to understand where produce comes from,” he said.

“It could help the small and medium farmers, but consumer attitudes and the general population’s buying habits need to change for it to really work.”

Mr Ludlam agreed there was along way to go but believed the signs were promising.

“We are starting to see consumer behaviour change quickly,” he said.

“Farmer’s markets are growing to make produce that is fresher and cheaper more available.”

“This is a way that farmers and the general community can win by shortening the supply chain and giving consumers access to fresh produce all over the State.”

The Greens would encourage any application that could benefit the community and establish a brand for that region.

Some suggestions fall under infrastructure for farmer’s markets or building food hubs where the growers in the area share the facility to help trade their produce.

Such hubs could include milk pasteurisers, packaging and labelling as well as refrigerated trucks.

Mr Ludlam said the project had been costed and was relatively cheap but had the potential to benefit many growers and was supported by the small farming community.

He said he hoped Federal Government would support the plan.