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.’

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.

Key Takeaways

• Shepparton Preserving Company, Australia's largest cannery, plans to reduce its intake of peaches and pears by more than 40 per cent due to competition from cheaper imports.
• Cost-of-living pressures influence Aussie consumers to opt for imported products over local produce.
• Fruit growers in northern Victoria have been left uncertain about their future, with some considering whether to prune or remove their trees.
• There is a call for tariffs to protect Aussie growers, as the dominance of imported products in supermarkets affects local agriculture and potentially threatens national food security.

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.

 

[Littleboy8]

Offered in aged care every morning along with fresh fruit. Residents liked it on cereal and pancakes or yogurt. Always purchased A10 size SPC.

Same here when I worked in the kitchen of a nursing home many moons ago.

 

[Ezzy]

I read elsewhere today that Woolworths would soon introduce a smaller can of fruit together with a larger can. The smaller can, the article stated, quoting a W.W.'s spokesperson, 'will contain just imported fruit'.

The article further stated that:- Our growers will be supplying, (l think), 40% less Peaches & 60% less Pears (but) SPC will be supplementing those (figures) with fruit from overseas because manufacturing is cheaper. We believe the situation should rectify itself by 2026.


*** Will there be any guarantee that any large tin of fruit will contain purely AUSTRALIAN grown fruit & not a mix of Australian & imported?

 

[Tervueren]

When families are experiencing higher living costs and Pension payments do not increase with the CPI folks have less money to spend. At present it is not only welfare recipients who are struggling financially but employees on the lower socio-economic scale as well. Many people are finding it difficult and harder to make ends meet and the increasing cost of food does not help. When the price difference between Australian product vs imported is $2 to $3 per can, costs quickly add up. People will always choose the cheaper option when it comes down to price. I remember when Dick Smith started a company that produced solely Australian grown products, at the lowest possible prices ensuring farmers and workers were paid fairly and were employees were primarily Australian. Remember Aussiemite? The idea was innovative, it promoted Australian produce and employed Aussies but it went broke because folks just could not afford to support it.

 

[Gsr]

I always buy Australian in any canned foods I buy. It is getting harder to buy Australian canned fruit in most supermarkets and there is not the variety that we used to be able to buy. I think it is time more regulations were imposed on supermarkets operating in Australia, making it law that they must stock more Australian products and less imported.

 

[KaraJenna]

I always buy a local product. Yes it may be a little dearer, but I am supporting our local farmers. Stop buying imported tinned products - you have no idea how they are grown, what chemicals they use and would other countries meet Australian standards. Don't buy imported fish - fresh or frozen, you have no idea how they are grown. A lot of Asian product comes through New Zealand and labelled as packed in NZ. Times might be tough and the same applies to local farmers.

Good reminder re the Kiwi connection and China. Take the time to read the labels! Don't trust your favourite Aussie label to always stick to previous commitmemts.

 

[KaraJenna]

When families are experiencing higher living costs and Pension payments do not increase with the CPI folks have less money to spend. At present it is not only welfare recipients who are struggling financially but employees on the lower socio-economic scale as well. Many people are finding it difficult and harder to make ends meet and the increasing cost of food does not help. When the price difference between Australian product vs imported is $2 to $3 per can, costs quickly add up. People will always choose the cheaper option when it comes down to price. I remember when Dick Smith started a company that produced solely Australian grown products, at the lowest possible prices ensuring farmers and workers were paid fairly and were employees were primarily Australian. Remember Aussiemite? The idea was innovative, it promoted Australian produce and employed Aussies but it went broke because folks just could not afford to support it.

People chose not to support them! Didn't care about putting Australia first! Why we have lost so many of our home grown industries, and the flow on effect we are suffering now!

 

[bluetang]

If we do not save our aussie companies we might as well just let any country move in and takeover!

They are doing it anyway

 

[Clancieblue]

I would not call canned fruit a breakfast must have,. OUR own fruit and vegies are , in my opinion, the best in the world. Once again the big 2 and smaller supermarkets inflict overseas rubbish upon us. Australian canneries have gone by the wayside

Nothing at any meal is a must have. But we all should have a right to choice. In aged care, tined fruit is often chosen over fresh, because it is softer and easier for some residents to manage.