The 10 year anniversary of the Fair Dinkum Food campaign will be recognised at Charlton Farm in Tasmania today to celebrate the efforts of local growers in the fight to improve Australia’s Country of Origin Labelling laws.

The Fair Dinkum Food campaign involved Tasmanian growers driving their tractors to Canberra to press their case for better Country of Origin Labelling laws and to encourage Australians to buy locally-grown food. Key goals of the campaign were to highlight threats posed to the local industry by imports and urge the public to choose Australian-grown.

“The convoy which arrived in Canberra on August 11, 2005 led to a number of initiatives, including a federally-funded review of the industry and increased awareness of Australians’ preferences for purchasing locally-grown produce,” said AUSVEG spokesperson Andrew MacDonald.

AUSVEG is the leading horticultural body representing Australia’s more than 9,000 vegetable and potato growers.

“The efforts of the Tasmanian growers who travelled to Canberra 10 years ago was instrumental in igniting political and public debate around the issue of Country of Origin Labelling,” said Mr MacDonald.

“Growers at the time called for a labelling system that clearly and unambiguously detailed the country of origin of food products to help protect the livelihoods of Australian vegetable growers and their communities.”

“Australia’s Country of Origin Labelling system continues to be a pertinent topic, with the recent hepatitis scare from imported berries leading to renewed debate and the planned introduction of reforms to the system.”

“The proposed changes announced by the Federal Government are a first step on the road to a better system. However, we feel they still fall well short of genuine Country of Origin Labelling.”

“It is incumbent on the Government to go further and meet the demands of consumers, who have repeatedly indicated they want to know the origins of the food they are buying and eating.”

“Today’s celebration of the Fair Dinkum Food campaign is an important milestone in the recognition of the work these growers did for their local industry, and is a timely reminder that we must continue fighting for the genuine Country of Origin Labelling system that Australians want and deserve.”

Today’s anniversary event will be held at Charlton Farm, at Moriarty from 2pm to 3pm.

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT: Andrew MacDonald, Manager – Communications, AUSVEG
Phone: (03) 9882 0277, Mobile: 0406 836 330, Email: andrew.macdonald@ausveg.com.au