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The Border Watch : October 23rd 2013
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6 NEWS Cheap imports take toll on food sector From front page “What really concerns me is that McCain has come out and said imports had risen from 10,000 tonnes to 130,000 tonnes, but they haven’t told people they actually bought a factory overseas that is sending tonnage to Australia,” Mr Sage said. In a statement from McCain yesterday, a spokesperson confi rmed the chip processor imported processed potatoes into Australia. “McCain Foods has plants in New Zealand and, along with Simplot and others, imports processed potatoes into Australia, but these are insignificant amounts compared to imports from Europe and North America,” a spokesperson said. “Ballarat and Smithton are now the only plants that process potatoes in Australia and are an important part of the McCain network.” Regarding the site’s future, the spokesperson said the company planned to prepare the site at Penola to enable it to be sold as an industrial facility. “Discussions are underway with various parties who are interested in the site,” they said. Speaking out about the embattled sector, Mr Sage said political parties must outline their policies and called for an update on the Limestone Coast Economic Diversifi cation Project. “I think it is really important we take it up as an issue, not just the potato industry, but also the dairy and horticulture industry,” Mr Sage said. He said there were no plans in place to protect the region’s valuable “food bowl” and discussion was needed with the Federal Government over tar- I think it is really important we take it up as an issue, not just the potato industry, but also the dairy and horticulture industry Grant District Mayor Richard Sage iffs and subsidies on imported products to ensure there was a more even playing fi eld. Mr Sage also called for the establishment of a framework for local government to assist primary production export opportunities. Meanwhile, Cr Graham Slarks called for investigation on the lack of testing of imported products and whether growers overseas were using banned chemicals in Australia. He also argued there needed to be better and clearer labelling of imported products. Cr Slarks also raised the issue that the South East Natural Resources Management Board charged growers for water, which added to the soaring operational costs for producers. “Growers are effi cient, but it is those costs that are prohibitive,” he said. Elected member Shirley Little - from Tarpeena - warned the plant’s closure would have a ripple effect across the region, including in Mount Gambier, Wattle Range and the Grant district. She said there were growers across the district that would be hurt by the decision. “It is going to have a big impact, not just on the employees who are out of work, but the growers and their families, the transport sector and the tradespeople who regularly fi x things at the plant,” Cr Little said. Fifty-nine people will lose their jobs at the Penola plant when it closes in early December. A major industry in the region, the South East’s potato industry has a farmgate value of around $28m. The majority of potatoes grown in the South East were processed at the factory, which produced millions of dollars worth of product. VISIT US ONLINE borderwatch.com.au TOUGH TIMES: Potato producer Terry Buckley. Supply in limbo Potato growers face freight uncertainty CLASSIFIEDS FOR ITEMS UNDER $100 (see conditions below) CLASSIFIED FORM $ Ph: Name: ............................................................................................................................................................. Address: ....................................................................................................................................................... Phone: ............................................................................................................................................................ CONDITIONS: 1. Only one item per advertisement. (Single items only). 2. Advertisement copy must be lodged on this original form. Photocopies and facsimiles will not be accepted. 3. Price of item must be stated in the advertisement. (Total value of item for sale must be $100 or less). 4. Private sales only (not businesses). 5. Maximum of 12 words. 6. The free classifi ed form is valid for one insertion only. 7. Advertisements may be excluded at the discretion of the manager. 8. Forms to be lodged at The Border Watch for inclusion in the next available Tuesday issue. 9. Deadline is 10.00am Monday prior to publication. 10. Excludes pets, livestock, produce and plants. Drop forms into: The Border Watch 81 Commercial Street East, Mount Gambier Phone (08) 8724 1555 This classifi ed form is only valid for insertion into The Border Watch on Tuesday 29/10/13 618159 6 - The Border Watch, Wednesday, October 23, 2013 SOUTH East potato growers who supply chip giant McCain Foods have yet to receive specifi c details from the company on new arrangements that will sweep in after the closure of the facility. Around 13 South East growers will need to send their product to the Ballarat McCain factory when the Penola plant closes just days before Christmas. Mingbool producer Terry Buckley - who is one of the region’s largest growers - said producers were still in the dark about the changes. “It is all up in the air at the moment,” Mr Buckley said. He said he expected the details to start fl owing to producers about whether suppliers would be slugged with the hefty freight costs to Ballarat. “We don’t know if they are going to be playing hardball or not,” Mr Buckley said. Although specifi c details were not known, he said a reduction in tonnage was a possibility in the future given the company would try to source as many potatoes as possible closer to Ballarat because of freight costs. He also warned some producers could be edged out of the industry if tonnage dropped. While contracts had been signed for this year, he said the fall-out from the closure would be felt next year when new agreements were negotiated. He said new contracts could be signed as early as January. “The details will come out then,” Mr Buckley said. The well-known potato grower said the Safries announcement last week continued to rock the primary production sector. “There are a lot of disappointed and angry growers,” Mr Buckley said. He said the plant was once ranked at the “very top” of McCain’s operations in Australia, but in recent years had become rundown with little money spent on the facility. Mr Buckley said the South East was Australia’s most effi cient potato producing region because of its access to water, the larger scale of the producers and cheaper land. IT’S SPRING & WE ARE BURSTING AT THE SEAMS WITH TRUCKLOADS OF FRESH NEW STOCK! EXTENDED TO SUNDAY Advanced Tomato Plants 3 for $8.50 Also Tomato Mixes 6 for$6.50 Advanced Veggie & Herb Seedling Special CONTINUED DUE TO DEMAND!ONTINUED DUE T Includes Tomatoes, Capsicum, Zucchini, Basil, Cucumbers, Pumpkins etc. $1.95 LAST CHANCE TO PLANT Seed & Sweet Potatoes Including Pontiac, Kipfl er, Ruby Lou Bulk Seedling trays of Petunias, Marigolds, Asters, Phlox etc only $13.95 OPEN 10AM-5.30PM TUES-SUN & MON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 10.00AM-4.00PM www.gardenarium.com.au GARDENARIUM Bay Road, MOUNT GAMBIER (1.3kms South of the Blue Lake) Phone 8723 1325 631579 Free
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