Coles to Offer Financial Assistance to Organic Producers

Article by: Hari Yellina

To enhance the supply of organic fresh produce, Coles is offering grants to organic produce growers in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. Coles stated that it would provide funds to six small and medium-sized companies carrying out initiatives to boost sustainability, expand Australia’s organic fresh produce market, and boost the production of sustainably raised meat. Mt Alma Organics, a third-generation company in North Queensland’s Burdekin Shire, will get $300,000 to spend on and set up specialised product washing, grading, and sorting equipment. This will considerably increase their production of fruit and vegetables that are certified organic in addition to enabling new practise. It will have a beneficial and long-lasting effect on the economy by increasing the ability to hire full-time and seasonal workers. 

Peninsula Fresh Organics, a family-run business in Victoria, will use a $300,000 grant to help carry out its plans to upgrade the irrigation infrastructure at its farms in Baxter, Victoria, and Barham, New South Wales, saving 60 million litres of water annually and preventing runoff of nutrients into nearby waterways, as well as to construct a cool room to extend the shelf life of its products. A new dedicated organic certified packing and distribution facility at Gatton will enable Queensland producer Agricultural Networks to process increasing volumes of food from numerous local farms. This will help fast-track access to organic fresh fruit in key growing regions. Steven Cain, CEO of Coles Group, said the company was happy to encourage creative and sustainable projects. 

All six of the candidates that received grants in the most recent round of financing, according to Coles chef and ambassador Curtis Stone, a panellist for the Coles Nurture Fund. “It’s fantastic to see our Aussie farmers and producers regularly demonstrate ideas that contribute to a more sustainable future for our agriculture industry,” he said. “Australia produces some of the highest quality food in the world.” s”With the emphasis on organic produce and sustainability in this round’s submissions, it’s critical that we at Coles be able to support these farmers in implementing measures that will innovate and grow the Australian food sector.”

In order to manage waste, reduce glasshouse gas emissions, and introduce micro turbine technology along with a biogas-fired hot water system to power the piggery with sustainable energy, fourth-generation farmers McMahon Family Enterprises, often known as McPiggery, will use a $490,000 award. The Lauchlan and Sarah Cole-run lamb and horticulture company Elansco will build an undercover animal management facility that will significantly enhance the handling, welfare, and management of lambs during the winter, when cold and wet weather conditions can negatively affect production. Cressy, Tasmania. The company will be able to produce dependable, high-quality lamb over the winter months thanks to the new facility. For cattle producers David and Katy Gillett from Jalna Feedlot, a $300,000 grant will help install two solar power systems to reduce emissions in their production of beef for Coles’ carbon neutral beef range.