Irrigated agriculture products were centre stage at Parliament House during the Farrer Food Fair last week.
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The second annual event, an initiative by Farrer MP Sussan Ley, showcased small-to-big businesses and exporters from around the Farrer electorate.
The event gave members, senators and parliamentary staff a taste of what the region has to offer.
Comprising Griffith, Albury, Corowa, Narrandera, Leeton, Deniliquin, Hay, Balranald and Wentworth and encompassing the Murray, Murrumbidgee and lower Darling rivers, Farrer’s irrigated agriculture contribute more than $7.1 billion to the national economy.
The Australian Prune Industry Association were invited, along with Murray Cod Australia, Morandin Family Wines, Calabria Family Wines, Biada and SunRice.
APIA chairman and Hanwood farmer Grant Delves said 95 per cent of Australian prunes were produced in this region.
“We were impressed with the concept of the Farrer Food Fair,” Mr Delves said.
“It’s an opportunity to promote an Australian product to politicians. A lot of people don’t even know there’s an Australian dried prune industry.
It’s an opportunity to promote an Australian product to politicians. A lot of people don’t even know there’s an Australian dried prune industry.
- Australian Prune Industry Association chairman Grant Delves
“We have a delicious, versatile and healthy product that is 100 per cent Australian grown and we’re trying to promote that to the public and politicians.”
A SunRice spokeswoman said the event gave guests more insights about how the organisation was growing its footprint “as a global exporter, securing premium markets for the different rice varieties grown in the Riverina”.
“Strategic partnerships with Japanese food wholesalers are opening up new value-added opportunities for SunRice’s premium Australian short grain varieties in Japan’s restaurant and sushi chain market,” the spokeswoman said.
“Our unique low GI rice is being launched in countries aware of the health issues associated with diabetes and obesity, while medium and long grain varieties are growing in popularity among Middle Eastern cultures.”
Ms Ley said that Farrer was “truly the home of irrigated agriculture – producing rice, grapes, cotton and cereals, through to diary, wool, fat lambs and cattle”.
“We also have important industries surrounding citrus, horticulture and vegetable production,” Ms Ley said.
SunRice teamed up with longtime customer Sushi Sushi to serve a sushi tasting.
“The fair was a fantastic way to recognise the significant contribution the vibrant communities of the Farrer region make to Australia’s agricultural production, and SunRice was proud to be able to represent the rice industry in this way.”