Media Release
7 June 2004

Organic food producers were out in force on May 26 as part of an industry development forum convened by the Mid North Coast Regional Development Board and the Area Consultative Committee.

Fifty-five organic producers, processors, retailers and government representatives attended the forum at Wauchope and took the opportunity to advance their industry by establishing four organic production and marketing networks. These groups will enable industry to address any impediments to growth and enhance organics profitability and success on the Mid North Coast. Participants strongly endorsed the need for a coordinated and cohesive approach to industry development and recognised that banding together to address common industry issues is the key.

The four new groups are; organic livestock, organic vegetables, organic garlic and organic fruit and nuts. Each group has identified what will assist the production, processing and marketing of their produce and have put plans in place to progress these as part of ongoing group action. Issues high on their priority lists include access to value adding and processing facilities, a market coordinator and market intelligence, aggregating product to meet volume orders and input buying efficiency. These are all things that industry critical mass can help resolve.

Contacts for each network are Organic Vegetables Joanna Rogers Hannan Vale 6556 7726, Organic garlic Susan Harwood Bellingen 6653 4578, organic livestock Simone Winter Temagog 6561 7402, organic fruit and nuts Rick Sharpe Pappinbarra 6587 6065. "Each group expects to meet again in the coming month and we are inviting more organic growers to join us. It really is a case of strength in numbers".

Speakers on the day highlighted that the demand for organic produce continues to grow at an exceedingly strong rate and there are a range of developments that auger well for the industry. However, there was also a cautionary message in the increasing area of farmland coming under organic production on a global level. This creates an opportunity to ensure this region is successfully positioned as a preferred supplier of organic produce. This means coordination and growth so that we can meet market needs for a large and consistent quantity of high quality raw and processed foods.

The establishment of these product-based networks is the first step in this approach. Forum participants however, are very interested in progressing quickly to the next stage and look at establishing a Mid North Coast wide organics body that can assist producers to brand and market produce from this region. At the next meeting, producers will form a steering committee to investigate options for a wider organics body.

This industry development program is delivered with funding assistance from the Department of State & Regional Development and the federal Department of Transport and Regional Services.

Many producers also joined in on an organics field day held the following day at Jan and Lauchlan Hollis' organic Koree Island Herb Farm.

Further information is available from Lyndell Stone at the Development Board phone 65 835647.

Contact:
Lyndell Stone, Mid North Coast Regional Development Board
6583 5647 or 0438 630 389

ENDS