PREMIUM milk sales are going “through the roof” in Bathurst as customers show their support for the country’s dairy farmers.
Since news broke recently that many Australian dairy farmers are being paid less for milk than the cost it takes to produce it, many Aussies have shown they are backing the farmers.
And that support is taking the form of increased purchases of premium milk, rather than the heavily discounted supermarket options of $2 for two litres.
Photos of empty premium milk racks at supermarkets have been posted on social media across the country.
A major local supermarket was photographed on the weekend with rows full of bargain milk, but with the more expensive premium milk all but sold out.
Bernardi’s IGA manager Geoff Bottom said he had never seen anything like this in his 30-plus years of working in supermarkets.
Yesterday he ordered 60 per cent more milk from a Dubbo-based dairy compared with his usual order.
Mr Bottom slammed Australia’s large supermarket chains for making it impossible for many farmers, not just dairy farmers, to eke out a living.
“I think it’s totally disgusting. How can a farmer make a living off this ... It’s not only milk, it’s meat, fruit and vegetables,” he said.
“I’d like to see everybody getting a reasonable run, a reasonable price for their product, so there’s more than one winner.
“Right now the multinationals, the large supermarket chains, are the winners.”
Mr Bottom praised Bathurst customers for supporting farmers, whether through buying non-discounted milk, or purchasing locally-grown produce.
Woolworths issued a statement to the Western Advocate yesterday confirming stores “are stocking proprietary milk brands the same way this week as we have done in previous weeks”.
“We always aim to have our shelves stocked with the products our customers want to buy,” a spokesperson said.
“Woolworths has always maintained a significant range of milk brands reflecting our customers’ desire for choice and will continue to do so.”
In a written statement, a Coles spokesperson said the company was in discussions with a number of farmer organisations about the launch of a new milk brand which will return an additional 20 cents a litre to an industry fund.
“We have kicked this off with a $1 million donation from Coles and we hope to have the new milk brand on shelves in around 12 weeks,” the spokesperson said.
“Coles is the only Australian supermarket to establish this initiative which has been welcomed by the National Farmers Federation, Victorian Farmers Federation and Federal Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce.”
ALDI supermarket was unable to respond to a request for an interview at the time of going to press.
