Resources from the Food Farmers' Commissioner

Update from the Food Farmers' Commissioner

The past few months have reinforced what we've been hearing from farmers, industry groups, retailers and policymakers across Queensland. Many of the challenges facing food producers remain persistent, complex and deeply ingrained. A recent visit to Stanthorpe once again highlighted the same key concerns:

• supermarket power imbalances
• compliance burdens
• limited market access
• ongoing workforce constraints.

These issues are not new, but they remain top of mind for growers who feel the squeeze from all sides.

With this in mind, the Food Farmers' Commissioner (FFC) has been actively pushing forward a series of initiatives designed to tackle these challenges head-on. One major milestone is the launch of our website and anonymous reporting portal, providing a secure way for farmers to share their experiences. This tool will help us capture evidence and examples of pricing manipulation, supply chain barriers, and compliance inconsistencies, all while maintaining strict anonymity. The insights gathered will directly inform policy discussions and industry advocacy.

We've also engaged an industry body to trial a market update and price transparency platform, which could be adapted for other commodities in the future. This initiative builds on previous work to support digital transformation in the sector and represents a practical step towards improving industry-wide data accuracy.

In February, the FFC appeared before the Queensland Government Primary Industries and Resources Committee, outlining key issues and advocating for greater transparency in supply chain relationships.

In early March, the Commissioner was also a guest speaker at the ABARES conference, where discussions focused on:

• the economic pressures facing farmers
• the urgent need for industry-wide solutions to ongoing compliance burdens
• market access
• workforce constraints.

These engagements have helped strengthen awareness of the challenges faced by Queensland's food producers and build momentum for meaningful dialogue and change.

Looking ahead, discussions with major supermarket executives are confirmed for the coming weeks, with a focus on price transparency, contract terms, and the impacts of retailer-driven compliance requirements. Ongoing conversations with the ACCC will also explore potential refinements to the Grocery Code and Horticulture Code.

If you're a farmer experiencing these or similar challenges, we want to hear from you. You can securely share your experiences through our anonymous portal.

Queensland's food producers are integral to our economy, and ensuring a fairer, more transparent system will help them continue doing what they do best—growing the quality fresh food we all rely on.

From the shed to the supermarkets, the Food Farmers' Commissioner's first 3 months in action

Since stepping into the role on 24 September 2024, the Food Farmers' Commissioner (FFC) has hit the ground running, meeting with growers, supermarkets and policymakers across Queensland. The goal? To champion the voices of farmers and bring transparency to the horticulture supply chain.

The FFC is tackling everything from price transparency and compliance harmonisation, to forging collaborative relationships with stakeholders. Key highlights include:

• connecting with growers, commercial fishers and other fresh food producers in the Lockyer Valley, Bundaberg, Bowen, Far North Queensland and the Granite Belt
• touring farms and packing sheds
• hosting shed meetings
• even squeezing in speaking engagements at industry gatherings like the AgForce Conference.

The boots-on-the-ground interactions have uncovered recurring concerns and issues from farmers, from rising input costs and workforce shortages to frustrations with supermarket practices.

But it's not all paddock and policy. The FFC is building bridges at the corporate level too. Meetings with senior executives at Coles and Woolworths have opened discussions around price transparency and supply agreements. Not stopping there, the FFC has also engaged with the ACCC and Brisbane Markets to explore ways of improving data sharing and compliance mechanisms. These steps mark a shift towards systemic change and better advocacy for our farmers.

One standout observation is the volume and complexity of compliance regimes, and the immense burden this places on growers. While necessary for food safety and quality assurance, the overlapping requirements from different buyers can be costly and time-consuming. The FFC is exploring ways to streamline these processes and ensure fairness across the board, addressing what has become a polarising issue for producers.

Supermarket behaviour remains a hot topic, with growers highlighting concerns over arbitrary quality rejections, packaging costs and opaque rebate schemes. The FFC has heard loud and clear the frustrations of growers, particularly around the lack of price transparency and perceived imbalances in power. These insights are driving plans to develop a de-identified platform for farmers to report issues, ensuring their concerns are heard.

Looking ahead, the FFC is gearing up for another busy quarter. Plans include:

• continuing regional visits
• making deeper dives into compliance challenges
• progressing the mechanism to take in farmers' concerns
• continuing to have conversations with all stakeholders to raise awareness of the challenges facing fresh food production and consumption
• investigating ways to rectify issues and concerns.

With momentum building and strong support from the industry, the Commissioner's work is paving the way for a fairer, more sustainable horticulture sector.

Stay tuned for more updates as the FFC continues advocating for Queensland farmers.