Calling all AFSA market gardeners! Join us as we mobilise a campaign against tightening regulations to sell berries, melons and leafy greens.
Why should we need a licence to sell lettuce? This Solidarity Session for AFSA members is an opportunity to mobilise a campaign against further regulatory burdens for market gardeners, as well as telling AFSA how we can support you against incoming changes across all states and territories.
In 2022, AFSA noted a campaign loss on behalf of its members as Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) announced increased regulation for P1052 Primary Production and Processing Requirements for Horticulture – berries, leafy vegetables and melons, which will come into effect in February 2025. Last month’s Solidarity Session was an open invite to inform market gardeners across the country about these changes and what they could mean once interpreted by state regulators.
Smallholders are no strangers to unfair and inconsistent regulation, and the misconceptions about foodborne illness and its causes are widespread. In fact, only one percent of all food-borne outbreaks reported in Australia in 2017 were attributed to fresh produce. Major outbreaks of foodborne diseases in produce up to 2022 are largely attributed to imported goods such as frozen berries and industrial farming.
Led by AFSA National Committee member and market gardener, Eliza Cannon (Borrowed Ground Growers), Eliza will give a brief overview of the changes, impacts and AFSA actions, followed by an open discussion of current practices and food safety measures that many market gardeners already use.
We want to paint a picture of our member farmers, size of farms, types of products, selling methods, supply chain length, storage, washing, processing and packaging, that will form a solid foundation for the Licence to Sell Lettuce campaign to mobilise market gardeners across the country.
Eliza will spend time providing:
- A brief recap on the changes to P1052 Primary Production and Processing Requirements for Horticulture – berries, leafy vegetables and melons?
- Why AFSA is collectivising to campaign against the changes
- How you can get involved in the Licence to Sell Lettuce campaign
- How AFSA can provide member support for market gardeners through policy reform and our Legal Defence Fund (LDF);
- A brief note on how food safety regulation is being addressed in the updated Peoples’ Food Plan, and how market gardeners can get involved in collaborating in the next stages of development.
Before the event, we’re asking market garden members to fill out this survey, so that we can get a clear idea about how current regulation impacts you, and discuss key reforms to be addressed in our Licence to Sell Lettuce campaign.
Event details
- Date: Wednesday 31 May
- Time: 6.30-7.30pm (AEST)
- Location: Online (Zoom)
Who is this session for?
This session is only open to AFSA members, particularly market gardeners and vegetable growers. If you know market gardeners who would be interested in this event and the broader campaign, please encourage them to become an AFSA member!
If you have any questions about this event or AFSA membership, or the Licence to Sell Lettuce campaign, please email AFSA’s General Coordinator, Jess Power (coordinator@afsa.org.au).
Register here >
