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small business Community facilities Agriculture | March 15, 2018

Farmers’ market support to return with Nationals

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy MP has welcomed a $2 million pledge of support for Victorian farmers’ markets and small food producers if the Liberal and Nationals are elected in November.

Ms Kealy said the Nationals would bring back the $2 million Farmers’ Market Support Program to support existing farmers’ markets and establish new ones, giving small producers more opportunities to sell directly to the community.

“We are very lucky in our region to be the home of some fantastic producers and farmers’ markets which give the community an opportunity to buy fresh, locally grown and produced food directly from the producers themselves,” Ms Kealy said.

“Farmers’ markets promote locally sourced and grown produce, generating jobs and investment in our local small food producers and the community through increased tourism.

“However when I visit the markets in our region and speak to stallholders, they often tell me that they are being strangled by government red tape.  

“The Andrews Labor Government recently announced they intend to subject small pig and poultry producers to planning changes and seem intent on wrapping our small producers up in kilometres of red tape.

“Some producers like Wheatons’ Store at Broughton, who sell their free range pork, lamb and beef products locally including at the Haven Market, fear this has the potential to drive them out of business.

“The Liberal Nationals will take a common sense approach and will work with small producers to ensure regulation is sensible so they can get on with what they do best – producing delicious, locally made goods,” Ms Kealy said.