It was suggested that the decision was made because buyers are not purchasing local processed produce.
I am a long-term advocate for the local community house network and an active life member of the South Shepparton Community Centre (established 1986).
The new centre, purpose-built as a hub and owned by Greater Shepparton City Council, opened early 2023 and is situated on Archer St, at the Vibert Reserve sports complex.
Food relief has been a program for several years and the demand escalated during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.
Staff and volunteers worked tirelessly at the community house, then in Service St, to meet that need, delivering food to doorsteps.
Floods in 2022, homelessness and the cost-of-living crisis add to growing numbers requiring food packages.
Shepparton Foodshare relies on fundraising and donated goods, has minimal staff and volunteers, and is the excellent base for supply.
As a weekly shopper at our large Woolworths or Coles stores I am very aware of the higher cost of food products during this crisis.
I was pleased to read in Country News (July 2) that the Federal Government has put a stop to this with an enforcement of the reviewed Food and Grocery Code of Conduct recommendations, and one of these to apply large penalties to the nationwide stores that breach the code.
Dairy farmers and fruit growers have welcomed the ruling and stories of the plight of local farmers and growers indicate the level of local concern.
It seems to me that this major issue should be subject of a public meeting with our local MPs, councillors, SPC management and employees, supermarkets, produce growers and all concerned with the food industry in our food bowl.
Pat Moran, Shepparton
Save SPC and our hard-working farmers
How can the Federal Government and Anthony Albanese justify their government’s lack of support of these Victorian farmers and 100-year-old Goulburn Valley factory, SPC, while at the same time spruiking their ‘Manufactured in Australia’ initiative?
I am only on a part-pension, yet have bought 10 large tins of SPC fruit from Woolworths last week to show my support.
If every Australian voted with their wallet and followed my example we could not only save this wonderful Aussie business, plus hundreds of jobs, many hard-working farmers, as well as the needless destruction of thousands of healthy fruit bearing trees.
We must all lobby our government to stop cheap overseas imports, to the detriment of our local food sustainability, by supporting our farmers.
Otherwise not only will the amazing well-honed, generational farming knowledge be lost, young people will not see a future in farming, land will be broken up and sold off to greedy developers.
We can’t allow this to happen. Stand up for Australian-made!
Ziggy Koenigseder, Coffs Harbour, NSW
