Australia's peak farming, food manufacturing and small business groups have banded together, urging the community to back the nation's growers, makers and businesses this Australia Day.
With ongoing drought, and recent fire and flood ravaging much of the country, Australian farmers, food manufacturers and businesses, small to large, have been impacted.
They need the support of the Australian community to keep providing the world-class products and service they are renowned for, and the National Farmers' Federation (NFF), the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) and Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) said buying products home-grown products was a great way for the community to show its support on January 26.
"With the ongoing drought and the more recent bushfires, Australian farmers need our support now more than ever. Buying Australian produce is crucial to making sure that our farmers and agriculture industry is being looked after," said NFF President Fiona Simson.
"Australian farmers are the backbone of our country and are responsible for growing our world-class food and fibre. Australia Day is all about celebrating our shared values so on Australia Day, support our farmers buy purchasing home grown produce."
Dr Geoffrey Annison, Acting CEO of the AFGC, said buying Australian products from Australian businesses was a great way for the wider community to support producers impacted by natural disaster.
"Food and grocery manufacturing injects $122.1 billion a year in to the national economy and is the lifeblood of many of Australia's regional communities, where sector employment is 107,000," Dr Annison said.
"Australia's food and grocery manufacturers buy raw goods from our farmers and turn this into the products we know and love. This Australia Day support the sector and buy some great Australian products to celebrate. Because helping one another is central to being Australian."
COSBOA CEO Peter Strong said "buying home grown is basically looking after the home".
"Small business people have their homes in our communities as do their employees. All totally support our growers and manufacturers," Mr Strong said.
"As a result of these jobs the rest of the community is in good hands - charities, sporting groups and other not for profits benefit from our home-grown and home produced goods. Support them and they'll support you."
