The Premier committed the Tasmanian Government's full support to the Australian Grown campaign at a major promotion in Devonport on 5 September 2007.
The Australian Grown campaign stemmed directly from the success of the Fair Dinkum Food campaign of two years ago, which featured a tractor rally from Devonport to Canberra in support of better national food labelling laws. It's been two years since the case was taken to Canberra to remind the Commonwealth Government that Tasmanians are passionate about quality, Australian-grown food products. We are also passionate about giving Australians the choice to buy Australian-grown food, which has now led to the Australian Grown initiative.
This is an important step in letting Australian consumers make informed choices when they find themselves in a supermarket. It's about letting people make the choice to actively support Tasmanian and Australian farmers. And that's important because how our farmers are doing reflects so strongly on the strength of our local communities.
Regional communities across Tasmania have formed a major part of the State's identity, and it is our farmers who continue to underpin the strength of those communities. They are men and women who raise families, volunteer in local organisations, support their schools and contribute to their communities.
Tasmania's economy is 2.5 times more reliant on vegetable production than any other state's, with about 640 vegetable growers in an agricultural industry worth more than $2 billion a year.
To find out more on the Australian Grown Campaign, including a consumer guide to Australian Made or Grown products, go to
www.australianmade.com.au/australiangrown .