Working together with industry 

Brisbane Markets Limited and Brismark have renewed their annual sponsorship of the Bowen District Growers Association Inc, under an arrangement which has the objective of promoting a better working relationship between the growing and wholesaling sectors of the industry.

The sponsorship assists with funding of the Association so that it can continue to provide professional services and support to its members.

The sponsorship program which the BDGA has in place has enabled growers in the Bowen and Gumlu regions to access information, participate in a range of projects and attend industry workshops covering a vast array of topics extending from chemical usage to biosecurity, natural resource issues, workplace health and safety, farm labour and industrial relations.

The sponsorship arrangement also provides for a communications framework between the organisations and facilitates an approach to discussing industry issues. BML and Brismark are also talking to a number of other grower representative organisations regarding the adoption of a Memorandum of Understanding which promotes cooperation and dialogue regarding topics of importance to the industry.

While this may seem like a very formal approach, it appears that this is necessary given the history of disputation and infighting for which the industry is well known.

Significant opportunities exist by working together such as the recent success of The Bundaberg and District Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association which has worked with BML in establishing a framework to take the Queensland Kids Fresh Net (QKFN) program to 43 schools in the Bundaberg and Wide Bay region.

This initiative promotes the industry and the consumption of fresh produce is what is an excellent outcome for all involved.

There are now 736 primary schools throughout Queensland registered in the QKFN program, which assists in promoting a healthy eating message to children.