Fresh food plan comes to ‘fruition’

Producers in the region are expected to strengthen their position in the marketplace following an agreement between Allstates Farms and the Southern Forests Food Council.

The alliance will see Allstates Farms at Perth Market City in Canning Vale transform one of its market floors to a Genuinely Southern Forests branded floor this month.

Food council executive chairman Bevan Eatts said this would provide a centralised point for buyers, retailers and chefs to access the region’s fruit and vegetables.

“This alliance gives the food council producers the ability to send their produce to a designated branded market floor,” he said.

“This alliance will also assist the food council in the consolidation of produce and the supply and developing of export markets.”

Mr Eatts said a commission on all produce sold from the Southern Forests region would go directly back to the food council.

“This will help ensure the food council is sustainable past June 2018,” he said.

“I also call on the producers for their continued support as we have now developed a supply chain model that is, without a doubt, the envy of any horticultural growing region across Australia.”

Allstates Farms managing director John Di Silva said the deal had been about promoting WA producers and their families.

“The Southern Forests region has some of the most stunning produce in the world and this means that we are able to both promote and support generational farming families,” he said.

“We know consumers want to buy and support genuine producers, this way they will know 100 per cent that they are.”

Mr Eatts said it was due to the hard work and dedication of the staff and the committee over the past four years that the deal had come to “fruition”.

“Their efforts have seen a very successful brand developed and established,” he said.

Regional Development Minister Terry Redman commended the efforts of the food council and Allstates Farm.

“To have someone like John Di Silva come down here and back the region is absolutely outstanding,” he said.

“Having the confidence to support what we’re doing down here and the growers is huge.”