Ballarat spud farmers take protest to next level

DETERMINED potato growers will take their protest to the next level after five hours of talks with McCain Foods senior management failed to reach a solution.The region’s potato farmers began a factory gate protest at McCain Foods in Wendouree on Monday sparked by the $273.50 per tonne price offered by the company for their produce. Yesterday a meeting between grower representatives and McCain senior management failed to break the deadlock.Grower representative Dominic Prendergast broke the news to the crowd that McCain Foods had not moved on their offer.“It was a hard meeting, we were in there for five hours and we haven’t got a cent,” Mr Prendergast told the crowd.“We haven’t got anything to offer at the moment.”McCain Foods Australia/New Zealand managing director Steve Yung said the meeting was cordial and constructive but no final decision was made on prices for this year’s crop.“It’s a positive sign that growers and McCain Foods were able to discuss and acknowledge each other’s position, but we have more ground to cover,” he said. “We hope we can progress on today’s meeting and come to a reasonable agreement soon.” Mr Prendergast said the talks started well with the two sides discussing their issues.Grower reaction page 4Initially the grower representatives asked McCain for a price of $335 per tonne for their potatoes but told them they would take $310 “in good faith.” Grower representative Ross Dimond confirmed McCain was simply not prepared to move, but indicated they would look at an increase for next year.“For a moment we thought we had them on board, quite frankly,” Mr Dimond said.Hopes were shattered he said when, after a 20-minute break in negotiations, the McCain management team returned with a different attitude.Mr Dimond’s summation the company had sent the message “they are not in love with Ballarat growers” was met with calls to take the protest to the next level.Minutes later growers moved some of the 50 tractors assembled to the other side of Ring Road effectively cutting off delivery lanes to the factory.Shortly after, trucks carrying potato supplies from South Australia were stopped at the factory gates by the barricade.Many of the growers expressed disgust and bitter disappointment at the outcome.“You work for 40 years supplying McCain and it comes to this,” Dean farmer Frank Johnston said.Ballarat mayor Craig Fletcher said he realised it was a highly charged situation with many of the farmers going back generations.“I spoke to the farmers today and I will send a letter to McCain Foods urging them to resolve the matter in an expedient and satisfactory matter for both parties,” Cr Fletcher said.To aid their cause, protesting potato farmers have urged Ballarat residents to come down to the Ring Road site opposite McCain Foods to pick up as many McCain 1 variety potatoes as they like. Three freezer vans will be distributing the free potatoes from today.