Goulburn Valley Food Co-op wins battle
The Goulburn Valley Food Cooperative (GVFC) achieved a milestone in the past week.
The group formed last year in a bid to take over the former Heinz tomato sauce factory at Girgarre after it moved offshore to New Zealand, but two subsequent offers were rejected by the multinational company.
Likened to the battle of David and Goliath, the GVFC never gave up - instead marching forward with their goal to open a community-run factory that will provide high quality local food, fair prices for farmers and stable jobs.
And last week the cooperative announced it had found a new site for their factory at Kyabram that would create up to 45 jobs and be churning out tomato-based products within 12 months.
GVFC spokesperson Ken Covington says it has been a huge challenge to get this far.
He defied the Prime Minister Julia Gillard's comments this week that Australia could become the food bowl of Asia, instead saying the Government should focus more on food security.
"Food security is one of my biggest fears. The Government needs to step in and help our own farmers, instead of opening the doors to for foreign investors buy up farming land."
Mr Covington said the Government had done little to assist the GVFC cause.
"There is just too much red tape in the way," he said.
"It took us six months to register as cooperative, because we wanted to be 'paddock to plate'. I think this will be used as a template for the rest of Australia - you'd think the Government would be falling over backwards to help us."
He said the GVFC did not want handouts.
"Initially we asked the Government to underwrite us for five years in case something went wrong, but that went nowhere," he said.
"Now we have decided to go down a different path where everybody can be a member. Our dream is for one million Australians to each buy a $50 share into the GVFC. It's going to spread risk and we are doing our bit to help save the Australian food industry."
On May 16 at Kyabram, the GVFC will officially launch the cooperative, beginning their drive to recruit members.
Source: Stock & Land, 11 May 2012
