Last week, Australia’s consumer watchdog launched legal action against Coles and Woolworths for allegedly misleading shoppers on ‘illusory’ discounts.
The supermarket giants have faced much scrutiny this year over pricing with this latest move by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) claiming that Coles and Woolworths broke consumer law by temporarily raising prices before lowering them to either the same price or higher than the original price.
The good news is that in the Northern Rivers we are lucky enough to have a viable shopping alternative for groceries with a local farmers’ market on every day of the week except Monday.
‘This latest action by the ACCC again highlights the power the supermarket duopoly holds over much of Australia,’ says Byron Farmers Market manager Tom Carey. ‘However, our community is in the fortunate position of being able to bypass the supermarkets and shop at the farmers’ markets where you won’t find fluctuating prices because you are buying directly from the people who grow or make your food. This means there’s no middle-man mark-ups or misleading advertising and the prices don’t vary from week to week. You know exactly what you’re paying for and what you’re getting.’
Tom says the benefits of farmers’ markets don’t end there.
‘Unlike the supermarkets, produce available at the farmers’ markets has been harvested by local farmers for market day,’ he says. ‘This means it hasn’t been stored in cool rooms or on shelves for long periods of time or travelled long distances, so it’s fresher and lasts much longer.
‘On top of that, there’s a real sense of community when you shop at the farmers’ market. It’s a much more personal experience than simply walking through a checkout. You get to know the people who grow and make your food, and you build a connection. You’re also more likely to be introduced to more interesting and unusual fruit and veg because our farmers grow such a wide range of produce from everyday staples to exotic and heirloom varieties.’
So, if you feel like taking a stand and are looking for genuinely fair prices, vote with your dollar and head to your local farmers’ market. Not only will you be rewarded with the freshest locally-grown produce, but you’ll be supporting our local farming industry and keeping money in the local economy.
Byron Farmers Market is held every Thursday from 7am to 11am at Butler St Reserve and Bangalow Farmers Market is held every Saturday from 7am to 11am behind the Bangalow pub.
