HORTICULTURE workers have been given a boost in the form of a $3.2 million federal government grant.
The funds have been awarded to one of the industry's peak bodies Growcom to help encourage businesses to take up the government's Fair Farm program.
Launched by the government in conjunction with Growcom, the program helps ensure workers are given fair treatment as well as to help lift employment standards.
Growcom chief executive officer Stephen Barnard said the program was the perfect way for employers to do the right thing by their employees.
"We are very excited by this investment from the Australian Government to support the further uptake of the industry led Fair Farms program," Mr Barnard said.
"Growcom developed Fair Farms with industry to support growers and promote awareness and education of ethical employment practices across the fresh produce sector in Australia.
"By participating in the program, growers can confidently implement Australian workplace relations, laws and industry standards while doing what they do best - grow top-notch food for Australians."
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Yalara Hydrogardens, which grows leafy greens near Toowoomba in Queensland's Darling Downs region, has become one of the latest Fair-Farm certified businesses.
"If you feel that you are already an ethical grower, the Fair Farms program will confirm and support what you already have in place," Yalara Hydrogardens' Jancie Cowie said.
"The initial thought of another set of rules to abide by within our farming business - which we have run since 1994 relatively incident-free - was not something I was excited about.
"But once getting into the Fair Farms program, most of the guidelines and rules were common practice to our farm anyway."
Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said he was hopeful the latest round of funding would encourage more businesses to get onboard with the program.
"The Fair Farms program is there to help horticulture business do the right thing, both for their employees and their businesses," Mr Littleproud said.
"We know that most farmers want to do the right thing by their workers but navigating employment and work health and safety regulations can be a struggle.
"Fair Farms was put together by Growcom to support all members of the Australian horticulture supply chain with the tools, information and training they need to be a compliant and ethical employer.
"I encourage anyone involved in the horticulture supply chain to look into this program."
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Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
