AUSVEG supports the Federal Government’s goal of boosting the value of Australian agriculture to $100 billion by 2030 and believes the Australian vegetable industry will be a significant contributor towards achieving this goal.
Currently the Australian vegetable and potato industry generates over $5.2 billion annually with a target of reaching $8 billion by 2030.
The vegetable industry is one of strongest performers of Australia’s agriculture industry given its growing value of production, its prominence in retail and market settings across the country and its rising export presence.
Every Australian is a vegetable industry stakeholder but many Australians do not consider the provenance of their food or the work that goes into producing it. The industry must engage with their stakeholders, the Australian community, so that vegetable consumers have a greater comprehension of the industry.
The vegetable industry needs to regain the trust and confidence of consumers. We need to assure consumers that their product is safe to eat, is nutritious, is produced sustainably and we care for our workers.
Too often consumers are presented with sensational views of the industry that do not reflect the expertise and innovation within the sector. At other times, the industry is prominent in the media during floods, drought or other extreme weather events which once again tends to portray a negative image.
The industry needs to regain the trust and confidence of consumers and assure consumers that vegetable products are safe to eat, nutritious, and produced sustainably and ethically.
Vegetables play a vital role in the health and wellbeing of all Australians, but industry and government need to act now to further improve health outcomes by boosting vegetable consumption, which is currently significantly below Australian dietary guidelines. Research has proven that increased vegetable consumption leads to better health outcomes and reduced demand on the health system.
The production and supply of fruits and vegetables is a truly a national industry that employs over 60,000 workers, further supported by tens of thousands of additional jobs through the supply chain to process, transport, and stock produce.
The recommendations outlined in this document will allow the $5 billion sector to not only grow in value, but also help boost the economy and secure the next generation of jobs in our regional and rural communities.
These priorities have been developed through extensive consultation and collaboration with AUSVEG’s state members, as well as growers across the country. Our shared goal is to reach an $8 billion vegetable and potato sector by 2030.
In its pre-budget submission, AUSVEG has outlined 19 recommendations under nine key areas which support our goal of reaching $8 billion by 2030. To achieve this target we need to grow our workforce, increase sustainability, help our communities to thrive, drive value across the supply chain, and build awareness of our sector.
Click here to view the list of recommendations.
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