I debated with myself whether to write this post, I don’t really see She Sows Seeds as a place for political banter, nor is it one of those current affairs, newsworthy blogs*. I simply like to bake yummy things, fluff some cushions and crochet in front of the fire.
But…
I can’t not say something about the shamozzle that has become Australian politics. If nothing else, blogging gives me a platform and a voice, and I like having a voice. To be blunt, I am embarrassed. Embarrassed to be an Australian, where this has become our political landscape, this is our reality. What a shame. My mum would send them outside and tell them to sort it out and not come back in until it was done and dusted. I don’t want to go into the in’s and out’s of the leadership spill, lots of other bloggers will do a far better job than this little farmers wife sitting in a farmhouse in rural South Australia.
But…
There are a few things that I do want to say, things that relate to me, my farmer husband, our life and our livelihood. This weeks political atmosphere has got me thinking, things I’ve been thinking for a long while but have finally sat down to talk about it. As it stands, Australia is currently without a Minister for Agriculture after Joe Ludwig stood down. The agricultural industry is in no-man’s land. I am absolutely sick and tired of Australian farmers not being valued or respected to the manner which they are entitled. Yesterday I was listening to ABC radio, as I do. Dick Smith was being interviewed. Love him or hate him he has at least tried to pump some life into Australian agriculture, he at least tries to support our farmers. His company is set-up similar to Paul Newman’s food company – all profits go to charity or back to the community. Dick said yesterday he already has enough money. His Australian owned tomato sauce, using 100% Australian grown fruit, has a meagre 1.6% of the market. Coles called him last week and told him they wouldn’t be able to put it on their shelves anymore. When he asked why, he was told people simply would not pay the extra 30 cents for his product when US megabrand Heinz had pride of place on shelving. Dick made a point which rang in my ears…
“Lots of people can’t afford the extra 30 cents. I understand that. But lots of people can.”
Lots of people can. That’s just the thing. We can, and we do, pay a bit extra for Australian grown, owned and packed food. It astounds me in this culture of foodie obsession, farmers market this and homegrown veggies that, people will still reach for the Californian oranges, they will still buy the Italian tomatoes. Are people absolutely stupid?! Scary thing is I think I know the answer to that question. The part that really infuriates me is that it’s these same people who are filling their shopping trolleys with imported, cheap food that will spout that ‘oh yes we need to support our farmers, they work so hard’. YES – we work hard, so bloody hard, harder than you will ever know, for little to no gain. But it’s easy for people to say these things but have no real concept of us – real people, with real jobs and real lives.
My family farm in Gippsland** produces Golden Delights, a Woolworths specific ‘brand’ of potatoes. Last night on Facebook I noticed a post on a page which I ‘like’ – the Delight Potatoes Facebook page posted a photo of freshly dug spuds telling their ‘likers’ that they are available within 48 hours after being harvested. I know this to be true. I’ve been the one organising those trucks to do exactly that, get to the markets, get to Mr Woolworths, over hell or high water. The produce industry is intense, cut-throat, hair-pulling and hair-raising, crazy at times and depressing at others. It’s high drama, low lows, high stakes and a lot of people pleasing. And still people commented that this 48 hour turnaround was surely not the case, and even if it were the case, the potatoes were too expensive anyway and they would not be purchasing them. I’m sorry?! I couldn’t believe what I was reading. Sometimes you want to shake people really hard. Do you know what has gone into growing those potatoes? Do you know how many months ago their seed was sourced, they were planted, the grower spent literally days of tractor work away from their families to nurture and love and grow them in beautiful soil and handled them ever so carefully, they were graded to the highest of specifications because of Mr Woolworths high attention to detail, all because YOU and your high standards have an unrealistic expectation of what your food should ‘look’ like. And still you will not buy it, will not support Australian farmers, because you say it’s too expensive?! Where do you think the majority of that money goes that you fork out for your ‘expensive’ potatoes? How much do you think it costs to GROW that potato? To get it to even sit amongst all those other imported vegetables in the supermarket and for you to turn your nose up at it? Perhaps people really are that stupid.
I’ve had an absolute gutful. Your choices in what you feed your family affect real people. I fear that the Australian agricultural industry is not treading water, we’re drowning, and fast.
Wake up Australia, it’s everywhere.
Windsor Farms is in voluntary administration.
Spring Gully Foods is in a similar position.
Dairy farmers are getting paid a pittance for their milk, whilst cost of production skyrockets and Coles offers $1/litre milk.
Do not even get me started on the absolute tragedy of the northern cattle market due to live export bans.
SPC Ardmona has slashed the contracts of orchardists in the Goulburn Valley, it’s no longer viable to can Australian fruit, growers are bulldozing and burning generations old fruit trees.
Perfectly good, producing, viable fruit trees. The world has gone mad.
My husband is from a lamb and dairying background, with a deep love for livestock and the beef cattle industry with a bit of cropping thrown in too. I’m off a potato and prime lamb farm with a produce trading family business. We live and breathe agriculture. This is our life and our reality. The sooner the Australian public realises this the better. We dream of raising a family on the land, like we were – another generation of producers in this country, born and bred with stock, dust, rain, soil running through their veins. Lately though we have been shaking our heads and looking uncertainly to the future. What sort of agricultural industry will our children and grandchildren be faced with? It doesn’t just scare and worry me, it makes me so damn angry…because it’s all preventable.
It’s all about choice. So please, please, choose wisely. A farmer will thank you for it.
* I promise this will be a very rare soapbox ranting blog post. Back to fluffing cushions and baking cakes next week.
** These photos are mainly of farming in Gippsland, taken in 2011 when we lived and worked there.
Emma says
Absolutely brilliant – I share your views, also a farmers wife and country born and bred. I’m so tired of complete disregard for Australian produce and farmers – its not a glamorous job by any means and I just wish our Government would support our farmers and industry and promote to the public. Otherwise, the future will be bleak and we’ll end up having our prime land bought by overseas owners and our produce imported. We live in a wonderful country that should be proud of our ag industry and in turn could/should be self-sufficient. Thank you so much for sharing your views, they sometimes are welcome by others, but there are plenty of people behind you supporting you. 😀
Siobhan says
Hi Emma, So very well said!! I live in inner Melbourne and always try source & buy Aussie grown produce for our young family. I sometimes get to go to farmers markets, but I can’t always get to them. I’m actually trying to avoid going to the supermarkets these days. So, I have been looking at Aussie Farmer’s direct lately, hopefully the farmers benefit directly from that type of business?
A Farmer's Wife says
Nice one Em.
Bit late on the bandwagon but, needless to say, I agree.
Unfortunately I also agree with your reply to the comment about not necessarily encouraging your children into ag. Even with inherited land it is getting harder and harder…. I hope things change but I do think food security and agriculture will need to be valued considerably more than they currently are before that happens.
Take care.
Amy says
A superb post, and I read it the day that you published it – and shook my fist with you. But you know what, lady? coming back here a week or so later got me to thinking – maybe you should be on your soapbox a bit more – I love the discussion that has followed here in the comments. Well done you. Politics calling?
Emma says
Hi Emma. Have just discovered your blog and this is the 2nd post I’ve read! I hear you!!! Good on you for being angry. Good on you for being a normal chick who is willing to get on her soapbox to show she cares for her country! More of us need to do it, everyday and especially at the check-outs. Keep it up. I’ll be back to read more 🙂 I think I already really like your style! R, Emm
Rosie says
That’ll teach me for not checking facts first – 100% of their Australian profits are re-invested into their Australian business and Australian stores!
Amy says
love that – thanks for the info!
Rosie says
I’m always interested in what you have to say Emma – you’re an intelligent, well spoken lady! I’ve never really had much to do with agriculture, and I don’t like ‘paying more’, as we take our food budgeting very seriously, but we buy all our fruit and veg from the local grocer, and from Aldi. I’m curious to know your thoughts on Aldi though. Whilst they aren’t Australian owned, 100% of their meat is Australian, 94% of their dairy is Australian and 97% of their fruit and veg is Australian. The profits don’t stay here, but they do work with the local market. I’d love to know what you think!
Justine says
Hi Emma,
I’ve been a long time follower & love your blogs! Completely agree with everything you have said. Won’t go into too much detail as my opinion is basically the same as yours but one thing I did want to say – I am an avid Golden Delight potato buyer from Woolworths stores!! They are the most versatile, delicious, creamy potatoes & I never even look or compare prices, I just load my trolley with my weekly buy of these lovely spuds 🙂 I am a consumer who can afford paying the little bit extra & always do. My husband is a stickler for Australian made & very very rarely will I ever buy something made overseas & never will I purchase overseas fruit or vege (since we have a citrus orchard this does make things a little easier). We also don’t buy the supermarket brand products as my husband believes these products give the supermarkets too much price control over producers. We can’t afford the supermarkets to monopolies the market. Rest assured there are some people out there doing their bit 🙂 I could save maybe $100 a week by buying imported products but I can afford not too & would rather enjoy the great quality this country can offer.
Go the golden delights!
Emma says
Thanks Justine – good to know that consumers think that GD’s are as good as we think they are! Living here in South Australia I miss having my ready supply of spuds. I agree about supermarket branded products, and my husband is the same as yours by the sounds!
Kate says
Thank you for writing this Emma, I agree with you wholeheartedly. I am not off a farm but did grow up in a farming community (citrus and grains). My blood boils when I see people selling and buying oranges from the other side of the world when the ones we grow here are beautiful. A few extra cents won’t really make a difference to most consumers but can mean the world to an Australian farming community. They don’t see, or don’t want to see, that their shopping basket choices are reflected in orchardists going out of business, packing sheds closing down, small towns dying.
Those of us who can afford to support local producers should, because the more we do the closer we get to all Australians being able to afford to do the same.
Glenda Gray says
Spot on! Well said, and please don’t get off that soap box. Australia needs more people like you who are willing to tell it how it is on behalf of Agriculture.. It really is a matter of farmers standing up to be herd now, they have been silent for far too long.
Frances Toohey says
Couldn’t have said it better!!
Sharon says
Emma, THANK YOU! so very well said. I don’t think the supermarkets sell our Australian produce very well at all – its so hard to see or tell where it comes from! yet if it only had a clear sign – potatoes from the Atherton Tablelands or watermelons grown locally (I know there is a local watermelon grower) then I would for sure make the choice!
There seems to be SUCH a divide between the urban dwellers and the country – if what the media portrays is to be believed – such an anti agriculture move – so many trying to tell us what is best practise! Honestly, do they not realise that we DO the best we can to look after our animals and our land for ourselves, our business and our future generations – we would be doing ourselves a disservice if we didn’t! And yet so much control – and the end result for our product – is taken out of our hands.
It needs more of us to come forward and speak out clearly and simply. Even just your every day life in the country, doing what you do, reaching your audience, is enough to spark a thought. Well that’s what I think anyhow. Making it real for them when, as they develop a connection via your blog, they see the hard work that goes into producing their food.
Hurrah again for your words Emma 🙂
Liza says
Hi Emma
Well said I think it is important to post about important issues that you care about. I 100% agree that people need to be supporting Australian grown wherever possible. Another solution for people you say they can’t afford it is to buy in season and cook in season. For example it is very expensive to buy mango’s in winter and unlikely they will be Australian because they are not in season. Eat fruit and veg that are in season and you will save alot of money. I know the consumer plays a large role in food choices however the Government could also do signifincantly more to make it easier for the farmer and the consumer. For example a pesticide for apples is banned in Australia (probably for good reason) however this does affect the crop and lowers yeild. The same pesiticide is used in China and yet there apples are approved for import??? And then Gas fracking is another very large threat to Australian farms that I’m yet to see the Government take seriously (another issue I know). I would like to add that I am not a farmer but still take my food choices very seriously. Great post Emma.
Serena says
This post really resonated with me Emma.
To be honest, we probably come from very different sides of the spectrum on many things (live export etc) however this I know for sure: The supermarket duopoly is killing the Australian farming industry.
The problem is, far too many people do not want to care. People claim not to be able to afford to buy Australian produce, but then buy a $5 latte every morning or a pair of $200 shoes. I see it all the time with people who say they can’t afford to buy free range eggs.
Having grown up in rural NSW I know how hard work farming is and it’s a shame to see people ignoring the welfare of farmers and animals just so they can get their cheap milk (which will probably go off before they finish it because let’s face it – things are so cheap we’re happy to waste them).
I personally try to shop at farmers markets as much as possible to pay the supplier direct – cutting out the middle man and ensuring a high standard supply chain.
I wish more Australians would start to respect where their food comes from.
Ali says
Having grown up on a beef cattle farm in NE Victoria where both my parents worked OTHER jobs AND ran the farm. Yes it’s a smaller farm (approx 100 head), but I know my Dad has always wanted to just farm alone and not work another job. But getting to the point where he’s been able to buy more cattle and build his herd was hard enough. Both my brother and I won’t be continuing my Dad’s farm. And it hurts me, and our family heritage growing up in that area to not know what will come of our property once my parents decide to leave it.
I can only image what you and Mat are both thinking and wondering. It is sad.
I just want to say how wonderful your photos are of your family’s property and sparked an idea in my head (I’ll message you). 😉 xo
Emma says
This is just the thing Ali – why would young people enter into a career in agriculture? I am honestly not sure what I would advise a son or daughter of ours wanting to follow in our footsteps, that is just so depressing to us. The only way Matt and I will be able to afford our own land and herd would be to work off farm like your parents, that is the reality of farming today. Unless you win tattslotto or inherit land you can’t enter the game. And people have got to eat.
Kathy says
I think everyone really gets the point and we all would like to buy local and Australian grown produce. The supermarkets do make it difficult when as per a post on the House of Humble blog a while ago about a tray of kiwi fruit for $2 at the supermarket that were imported from Italy. Seriously….this little tray of kiwifruit are grown, picked and driven to an airport, put on a plane, gone through customs, goes on another road trip to hit the supermarkets in a plastic tray and the supermarket is making money………..seems insane to me that’s for sure.
I think the retailers are making money while the farmers are doing the same thing for less money and unless they want to pack up and quit farming it’s a catch 22. They don’t have a lot of choice. I like that the farmers markets opened up to farmers selling directly to consumers but even so all of this takes man power and time. I think we all would like to assist the farmers and the Australian economy however sometimes even though we may not want to buy the imported $2 tray of kiwifruit and get outraged at them having being flown all the way from Italy we do because our money is going on other basic essentials like electricity which is going up another 23% come the 1st July. In doing my own family budget I would consider electricity, petrol and house-contents insurance as an “essential” however in 2013 I actually class them as luxury essentials. My own mother’s house and contents insurance went up from $600 to $1400 this year. Her house is only insured for $300,000 and $60,000 contents (not a huge amount). She lives in Brisbane on a hill that will never be flooded out unless the entire city of Brisbane is underwater. Another $800 on top of $600 annual premium for the exact same thing as last year is completely outrageous. A normal working family would struggle with an increase of approx 120% let alone a pensioner. We all would like to support local and Australian farmers however our economic climate and the supermarket giants making most of the money seem to somehow trap the farmers and the consumers. I agree we can all make a choice and I am very conscious when shopping and particularly buy Australian tomatoes in a tin but I think everyone is struggling in 2013 and I don’t think there is an easy answer. Easy as in it should be easy to support local and Australian grown, after all, our farmers are really growing this for us not for some foreign country. A lot of people are on the simple living bandwagon in 2013 and are definitely more conscious of these issues which is good but there needs to be more support from the top of the chain and not only at the bottom. I completely understand your post and I know you have not meant to offend anyone and if I were a farmer I would (apart from being completely exhausted) would be frustrated as well. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane, Australia
Emma says
I agree Kathy – it’s not just farmers struggling, I know families and just everyday Australians are struggling with just simple basic everyday living expenses. You’re so right that it’s not just individuals that need to make changes, it’s businesses and the bigger players. Thanks for you comment. It’s all rather easier said than done isn’t it?
Jane says
Dad went through a similar thing with his passionfruit farm in the 1990’s! It was cheaper to import passionfruit PULP (no GST even though this is pre-GST) from Indonesia than supply with fruit from his farm! But its the other “Australian businesses” that chose to go with the cheaper imported option. So its not just the individuals that need to make the switch, but businesses too!
Emma says
Agreed.
Amanda says
HERE HERE.and very well said.
(gorgeous photos to accompany as well)
Helen says
I’m forced to buy the cheapest fruits and veges I can afford, due to personal circumstances. I always try and choose Australian grown, but sometimes it is beyond my budget. That doesn’t make me “stupid”. I think your points are valid, but calling those who choose not to buy locally grown – for whatever reason, be it ignorance or something else, like struggling to raise a large family on a single income (like me) – stupid is perhaps not the best way to get your point across. As the old saying goes, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. I will make a bigger effort to consider carefully where my food is sourced from in the future, but I would respectfully ask that you refrain from calling your consumers “stupid” while in the same breath asking them to buy your produce.
Emma says
Good point Helen. I do understand people can’t afford the extra cost to buy Australian grown/made products, it’s the people that do have the opportunity and privilege of a choice which frustrate me.
Jessica says
Well said!! I grew up in east gippsland on a farm (cattle and sheep). I know how hard farmers work to make a living and I always make a conscious decision to buy local products. Just wish everyone else would too.
P.s. I love reading your blog and checking out your lovely photos! 🙂
Amy says
Well said, steendam!