Aussies’ favourite breakfast staple under threat due to reduced production
- Replies 27
As the sun rises over the vast Australian landscape, many look forward to starting their day with a comforting breakfast routine.
Savouring a steaming cuppa or nibbling on a crunchy bikkie, these rituals are imprinted on our everyday lives and represent moments of comfort.
However, a recent announcement from Australia's largest cannery may have us rethinking our breakfast choices.
Shepparton Preserving Company (SPC) Australia, based in northern Victoria's Shepparton, has decided to reduce its intake of peaches and pears by more than 40 per cent for the upcoming season.
‘The average Australian household is under pressure, and customers are purchasing alternative products imported from countries such as South Africa and China, where the cost of production is lower,’ an SPC spokesperson explained.
‘As a result of this reduced demand, we have made the difficult decision to reduce our orders of peaches and pears for the upcoming season.’
Victorian Fruit Growers Services Manager Mick Crisera noted that despite the announcement during last month's supply meeting, which gave growers time to plan for the upcoming season, many were still taken aback.
‘Twelve to 18 months ago, the cannery was talking about encouraging growers to plant more,’ Mr Crisera said.
‘Now, within 18 months, they're unable to sell their stock.’
Growers are left with a surplus they cannot sell and face tough decisions: Should they prune their trees or remove them altogether?
‘It just depends on which growers want to take a punt and still grow to the end of the season on the hope that (SPC) may take more,’ Mr Crisera said.
He added that tariffs were necessary to safeguard Australian growers against the competitive pressure from inexpensive imported products driven by rising costs.
'I don't think many consumers realise that a lot of that Select or Coles or ALDI or IGA-branded products, even though they say they're (a) community company, it's actually a product of China or South Africa,' he continued.
‘There needs to be some sort of protection for Australian growers. Other countries worldwide seem to want to protect their growers except Australia.’
The Goulburn Valley, often called the 'fruit bowl' of Australia, has endured tough times recently, with rising costs, tight margins, and the impact of extreme weather on crops.
‘It has been a tough grind,’ Mr Crisera commented.
‘We need the Australian public to be aware as much as possible about the challenges that growers face.’
Jeremy Griffith, a National Farmers Federation's Horticulture Council member, expressed ongoing dissatisfaction with the quantity of foreign imports from major supermarkets.
‘It's no great surprise that we are seeing the reputation of the major supermarkets fall off the cliff,’ Mr Griffith said.
‘Growers cannot get a fair return on their produce. We have growers who reported not having had a price increase for 15 years.’
'That is the level of domination Coles and Woolies have in this country.'
Mr Griffith emphasised the challenging conditions growers face and highlighted the potential risk they pose to national food security.
He expressed optimism that the federal government's review of major supermarkets could produce more favourable terms for growers.
The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union reported that employees at the cannery had received no information regarding possible job reductions.
‘There's been no consultation around this announcement,’ Union Organiser Candic Tierney said.
‘Which is not throwing us all under the bus, but (we're) a little bit disappointed they haven't presented an offer to the employees about what this looks like.’
In a related development, conflicts between growers and two retail giants, Coles and Woolworths, occurred earlier this year.
Fruit growers have opted to reveal significant insight into the pricing mechanisms for apples in these retail giants. Further details on these revelations can be found here.
Have you noticed changes in the availability of your favourite breakfast items? How often do you buy Australian-grown produce? Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
Savouring a steaming cuppa or nibbling on a crunchy bikkie, these rituals are imprinted on our everyday lives and represent moments of comfort.
However, a recent announcement from Australia's largest cannery may have us rethinking our breakfast choices.
Shepparton Preserving Company (SPC) Australia, based in northern Victoria's Shepparton, has decided to reduce its intake of peaches and pears by more than 40 per cent for the upcoming season.
‘The average Australian household is under pressure, and customers are purchasing alternative products imported from countries such as South Africa and China, where the cost of production is lower,’ an SPC spokesperson explained.
‘As a result of this reduced demand, we have made the difficult decision to reduce our orders of peaches and pears for the upcoming season.’
SPC in Shepparton, Victoria, will cut peach and pear intake by over 40 per cent due to tough foreign competition. Credit: iStock
Victorian Fruit Growers Services Manager Mick Crisera noted that despite the announcement during last month's supply meeting, which gave growers time to plan for the upcoming season, many were still taken aback.
‘Twelve to 18 months ago, the cannery was talking about encouraging growers to plant more,’ Mr Crisera said.
‘Now, within 18 months, they're unable to sell their stock.’
Growers are left with a surplus they cannot sell and face tough decisions: Should they prune their trees or remove them altogether?
‘It just depends on which growers want to take a punt and still grow to the end of the season on the hope that (SPC) may take more,’ Mr Crisera said.
He added that tariffs were necessary to safeguard Australian growers against the competitive pressure from inexpensive imported products driven by rising costs.
'I don't think many consumers realise that a lot of that Select or Coles or ALDI or IGA-branded products, even though they say they're (a) community company, it's actually a product of China or South Africa,' he continued.
‘There needs to be some sort of protection for Australian growers. Other countries worldwide seem to want to protect their growers except Australia.’
The Goulburn Valley, often called the 'fruit bowl' of Australia, has endured tough times recently, with rising costs, tight margins, and the impact of extreme weather on crops.
‘It has been a tough grind,’ Mr Crisera commented.
‘We need the Australian public to be aware as much as possible about the challenges that growers face.’
Jeremy Griffith, a National Farmers Federation's Horticulture Council member, expressed ongoing dissatisfaction with the quantity of foreign imports from major supermarkets.
‘It's no great surprise that we are seeing the reputation of the major supermarkets fall off the cliff,’ Mr Griffith said.
‘Growers cannot get a fair return on their produce. We have growers who reported not having had a price increase for 15 years.’
'That is the level of domination Coles and Woolies have in this country.'
Mr Griffith emphasised the challenging conditions growers face and highlighted the potential risk they pose to national food security.
He expressed optimism that the federal government's review of major supermarkets could produce more favourable terms for growers.
The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union reported that employees at the cannery had received no information regarding possible job reductions.
‘There's been no consultation around this announcement,’ Union Organiser Candic Tierney said.
‘Which is not throwing us all under the bus, but (we're) a little bit disappointed they haven't presented an offer to the employees about what this looks like.’
In a related development, conflicts between growers and two retail giants, Coles and Woolworths, occurred earlier this year.
Fruit growers have opted to reveal significant insight into the pricing mechanisms for apples in these retail giants. Further details on these revelations can be found here.
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