Hastings co-op firmly behind local farmers during milk crisis

Milking them dry | video

LOCAL farmers have been buoyed by the support of the Hastings Co-op.

IGA stores under the co-op banner only stock branded milk, such as Norco and Dairy Farmers.

The nationwide campaign to boycott supermarket brand milk continues to gain momentum as farmers wait for the new financial year.

But then they are likely have a pay cut which will see them earn a paltry 35 cents per litre of milk, which costs them 45 cents per litre to produce.

Chief executive officer of the Hastings Co-op Allan Gordon said the ripple effects from the Victorian farmer crisis will cause headaches for NSW.

“If that occurs the farm gate price for dairy farmers is likely to drop which makes it hard for them,” he said.

“We’ve found that the locals are supporting the premium products. Norco and other branded milk products are walking off the shelves much faster than they have in the past.”

While Mr Gordon admits their stores did have a cheaper range of milk, he confirmed it was made by Norco which means it is still a local product.

“All the milk we sell is in support of our dairy farmers. We sell Comboyne cheese, Sungrow yoghurt and other local dairy products,” he said.

“It all goes back to helping the local dairy farmers and the industries involved in that so we are very proud of it.

“We are hopeful that this campaign to support local dairy farmers continues not just in our area but Australia-wide.”

Wauchope IGA and others within the co-op have erected signs that state all of the milk is local, with sales supporting our farmers.

“I hope that it gives our customers peace of mind. I like to think that most of what we do helps to support our community,” he said.

“One of the things we introduced about a year ago was the local product tag for the shelves.

“Evidence shows that if you put one of these tags on the shelf showing it was made locally then people are more inclined to buy that product.

“It speaks volumes of the community. They want to buy local, they are proud to buy local.

“We have so many fantastic producers here on the mid north coast and we will continue to showcase them into the future.”

Wauchope residents are clearly passionate about helping out their own, with several speaking out in support of farmers in the area.

"We live here. We have to look after them," resident Tony Mifsud said.

Anita Sparavek said her whole family including her grandparents now buy milk from local farmers.  

"Once they heard that everyone was bonding together to support the local farmers, they got behind it,” she said. 

“ I grew up in a dairy district. It's important to support our farmers."

Twenty-one-year-old Rhys Thompson-Jones said his parents had also changed to buying milk from local farmers.  

"My family are from a farming background and we don't want to see farmers going out of business."