Challenges ahead for fruit and vegetable growers

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry's Australian Food Statistics 2011-12 report reveals that the fierce competition between local growers and international fruit and vegetable importers will continue this year.

"We are a great food producing nation," begins the report.

"Over 90 per cent of the fresh food on Australian tables today is grown and produced here by local farmers. In addition, Australian farmers produce enough food to feed 40 million people living beyond our borders."

However, statistics show that 15 per cent of the food imported into Australia between 2011 and 2012 were fruits and vegetables.

Cheap foreign imports are putting pressure on local industry, with New Zealand being our number one supplier of imported foods.

Hugh Gurney, spokesperson for AUSVEG (an organisation that represents Australia's 9,000 vegetable growers), called these statistics "grim" and stated that the agricultural sector "is facing a crisis".

Growing crops has always been a risky business, and ensuring your produce is protected in case of a natural disaster or other unexpected event should definitely be a top priority for all farmers.

One of Mr Gurney's major concerns when it comes to purchasing produce from New Zealand is that some of these imported fruits and vegetables actually begin life in China, where safety and quality standards are not so stringent.

Reports that traces of formaldehyde (a cancer-causing substance that is used to preserve human flesh) was found on imported Chinese produce has got Mr Gurney calling for better Country of Origin Labelling legislation.

This will help purchasers to pick Aussie produce, which is safer to eat than its "often inferior foreign counterparts," he said.

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