AU: Woolworths potato sourcing an issue for Tableland growers
Colin Wilkie, who owns two sebago potato farms at Tolga and Wondecla, said Woolworths' decision to stock only golden delight potatoes in their Cairns stores meant around 27 Tableland farmers would be forced to sell elsewhere because they did not grow the type.
"I'm between a rock and hard place," Mr Wilkie said.
"Potatoes are a big part of my business and they're just squeezing the little growers out."
Mr Wilkie said he was notified of the change in policy through Woolworths' local potato supplier Beattie Produce around six to eight weeks ago, as the start of the sebago season got under way in early June.
Only three golden delight growers operate on the Tableland, with their local season not beginning until September. Woolworths sources potatoes from NSW until then.
Golden delight potatoes typically produce a bigger yield over a season than sebagos, and Woolworths is able to source them at a cheaper rate before adding freight costs.
"That's the problem. Woolworths want a set price and the farmer has to grow a high-yielding potato that meets their prices, otherwise you won't survive," Mr Wilkie said.
"It's a bit ridiculous trucking them all the way down south when there's growers here ... sebagos are a good all-round potato."
"The way things are going, it's just becoming very frustrating," he added.
Mr Wilkie said Woolworths introduced a similar golden delight potato supply at its Atherton store, but a customer backlash had the store returning to sourcing potatoes from local suppliers.
"Woolworths do it with everything. They've done it with milk, now they're doing it with potatoes," he said.
A Woolworths spokesman said the company had bought more than "10,000 tonnes of potatoes sourced from the Atherton Tableland" during last season, but did not reveal what type of potatoes they were.
"When potatoes are in season at the Atherton Tableland, Woolworths not only supplies our local Far North Queensland stores but stores throughout the Eastern Seaboard," the spokesman said.
"At other times of the year, when potatoes are not in season at the Atherton Tableland, our potatoes are sourced from the relevant growing region."
The decision to source golden delight-only potatoes comes soon after Woolworths launched its "local sourcing strategy" this year, which is currently being trialled in South Australia.
Source: cairns.com.au
