A national event promoting the benefits of organic food and beverages to consumers will also help secure jobs in Victoria’s rapidly growing organics sector, the Victorian Government announced yesterday.
The Victorian Government has put away $25,000 in support of National Organics Week, beginning 1 October.
The $25,000 will be made available through the Support for Organics Program, part of our Government’s $205 million Future Farming Strategy.
Parliamentary Secretary for Regional and Rural Development Jaala Pulford said the state’s organic businesses made up a quarter of all Australian operations.
“Victoria is home to more than 650 certified organic businesses. Our State makes up 69 per cent of the national organic dairy industry value – $11.6 million – and we produce 3100 tonnes of organic vegetables from 2350 hectares of certified land.
“Organics is a fast-growing market in a food and beverage sector that employs one in five regional Victorians, so it is crucial we continue supporting jobs and farmers.
Ms Pulford said the Victorian Government were also supporting three other projects, including $50,000 towards a program linking farmers directly to consumers, and $48,000 towards the Organics Revitalised at Queen Victoria Market, a project aimed at educating people about organics through programs and activities.
Ms Pulford said $30,000 would be provided to the Organic Food & Farming – Application of Sustainability Conference in Bairnsdale on 8 and 9 November to demonstrate to farmers and the broader community the benefits and practicalities of going organic.