Australia’s horticulture industry is keen for the country’s government to establish a grocery ombudsman to ensure fruit and vegetable growers are not being taken for a ride by wholesalers and retailers.
Low prices paid to growers by Australia’s two dominant supermarket chains, Coles and Woolworths, have repeatedly been an issue for the industry.
Responding to the introduction of a similar role by the British government last week designed to uphold the new Grocery Supply Code of Practice, the Horticulture Australia Council’s CEO Kris Newton told the ABC something similar could be worth considering for Australia.
“We’ll wait and see what the current Government does `but` we don’t believe that that’s necessary at the moment,” Ms Newton said.
“We’ve had a good hearing from the department and the `Agriculture` Minister and we’ve certainly pushing for this to be reinstated, this ombudsman role, for some years now.”
“Should it become necessary we’ll certainly think about that; it’s an interesting strategy.”
