AUSVEG nevertheless stands by its claims that Australian growers did feel pressure to contribute a 40c-per-crate of produce-supplied levy to the retail giant to help fund the marketing campaign.
“We know this to be the case because leading growers from around the country approached us with their concerns, and that’s why we went public,” said AUSVEG spokesperson, Andrew MacDonald. “From the outset AUSVEG maintained that many growers were afraid to go on the public record regarding their concerns about contributing to the campaign because they were worried about possible reprisals in terms of their future business dealings with the supermarket giant.”
“This is completely understandable given Woolworths is the largest customer for many of these growers.”