The independent fresh produce sector is crucial to every Australian. Ensuring this sector is vibrant, successful and sustainable is critical, and one of Freshmark’s most important jobs is to be the voice of industry. We have scaled up our advocacy activity so that policymakers and regulators in NSW understand why the industry we represent is so important, and what we need to make it work.
We are proud of the positive outcomes that our advocacy work has achieved. Importantly, our expanded advocacy program has also led to an increase in the profile of Freshmark and the fresh produce sector, as evidenced through a number of connections and conversations which indicate regulators and others are sitting up and taking notice of what we have to say.
Our advocacy program is led by the Industry Advocacy Committee and continues to push for changes that will help make the sector sustainable over the longer term. Only by maintaining a solid and passionate advocacy effort can we ensure the voice of our industry is heard. We have developed key policy positions around labour, food security, environment, consumer education and regulation & governance and assign priority areas as part of our regular strategic review process.
Australia’s fresh produce industry is constantly facing challenges that prompt Freshmark to start the most difficult conversations and pave the road to change. We represent you, our members, making sure your voice is heard through building a community of supporters and influencing policy, ultimately shaping the fresh produce industry for the better!
Photo credit Toby Zerna/Office of the NSW Premier
The draft Food Regulation 2025 as it currently stands will have a severe negative impact on businesses operating across almost the full breadth of the berry, melon and leafy vegetables supply chains. It could see businesses required to pay multiple licence fees depending on how many sites they operate from, how many vehicles they use and how many of the three lines they deal in.
In most other states, the licensing fees are calculated in an entirely different way and the requirements extend only to early-stage processors (from grower to packhouse) while the NSW equivalent would capture wholesalers, providores and transporters as well.
This means the NSW sector would be at a huge competitive disadvantage. Our modelling shows that the licensing fees in the Draft Food Regulation 2025 could cost some NSW businesses, in particular transport companies, close to $100,000 every year.
Freshmark supports fair, equitable, and inclusive access to staff for businesses across the NSW fresh produce supply chain, and a safe, adequately remunerated work environment for workers.
Freshmark supports fair, equitable, and inclusive access to staff for businesses across the NSW fresh produce supply chain, and a safe, adequately remunerated work environment for workers.
Freshmark supports fair, equitable, and inclusive access to staff for businesses across the NSW fresh produce supply chain, and a safe, adequately remunerated work environment for workers.
Freshmark supports fair, equitable, and inclusive access to staff for businesses across the NSW fresh produce supply chain, and a safe, adequately remunerated work environment for workers.
Freshmark supports fair, equitable, and inclusive access to staff for businesses across the NSW fresh produce supply chain, and a safe, adequately remunerated work environment for workers.
Freshmark has increased the amplification efforts of our advocacy by belonging to the Australian Chamber of Fruit and Vegetable Industries Limited, trading as Fresh Markets Australia (FMA).
FMA is the national organisation representing each of the five Market Chambers, which themselves are organisations that represent the fruit and vegetable wholesalers located in each of Australia’s six central Markets (Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Newcastle).
