Food Insecurity ? – A Growers Perspective

1. In the June 08 quarter, vegetable prices fell but input costs such as fertilizer, fuel and water, continue to skyrocket.
2. Vegetable growers trade in a ‘free market’ where the market price is sometimes below the cost of production.
3. Vegetable growers are squeezed between powerful retailers and a consolidated farm supply sector.

The challenge … to increase vegetable consumption

• High value locally grown vegetables are readily available all year
• There is not a problem on the supply side … we need to increase consumer demand for heathy food
• Despite the ‘Go for Five‘ promotion, the message is not getting through to consumers, especially the disadvantaged
• Vegetables are not ‘sexy’
• Health authorities need to work closely with the vegetable industry to promote cultural change in order to tackle the problem of growing obesity and declining community health

Source: Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics
Australian Bureau of Statistics

Ian James
Vegetable Industry Economist
Industry Data Economic Analysis

“Learning from the Field Forum”