A growing number of Australian farmers want shoppers to buy directly from them, as supermarkets come under increased scrutiny due to rising prices.
Delivery Service Our Cow believes supermarkets will soon become obsolete amid the growing popularity of services that deliver fresh produce from paddock to porch.
The direct-to-farm market has boomed in recent months as more buyers choose to buy directly from producers to offer farmers the best price for their produce.
“It’s incredible the support we’ve received from the Australian community over the last few years,” said co-founder Bianca Tarrant. 2GB radio.
‘Now everyone is realizing what the supermarkets and the big boys are doing to farmers and how prices fluctuate so much.
‘We took a big risk to buy our farm and couldn’t afford to continue receiving the prices we were paid for our livestock.
“And we really needed to be able to lock in a price and bring some stability to our own farming operation and offer that same stability to other farmers as well.”
Pictured are Bianca Tarrant and Dave McGiveron, founders of farm direct service Our Cow.
An increasing number of Australians are choosing to use direct farm delivery services rather than buying their weekly shop at major supermarkets such as Coles and Woolworths.
Up to 100 farmers in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria have opted to receive their produce from between 40,000 and 50,000 Our Cow customers.
Tarrant said producers could rest easy knowing their products were enjoyed by families not far from where they were produced.
“Our customers know that the money they spend…on their purchases actually goes directly back to the farmers and there aren’t ten middlemen taking a cut,” he said.
“Our farmers get paid more and our customers get a good quality product and feel safe knowing they are supporting the farmers.”
Tarrant said Our Cow gave Australians the opportunity to support farmers every day through their food choices, not just in times of floods or drought.
The service offers locally sourced beef, lamb, pork and chicken, bacon, wild seafood, cheese, pet food and alcohol delivered directly to homes.
A select box including Paleo Burgers, Premium Ground Beef, Rump Steaks, Eye Steak, and Stir-Fried Beef Strips costs $149.99, including delivery.
The Coles Group reported on Tuesday that sales rose but profits had slumped in the first half due to fierce competition and the cost of living.
The company, founded after the Black Summer wildfires of 2019, explained why its prices are not cheaper than supermarkets.
“We are very comparable, but we don’t aim to be ‘cheap,'” they said.
‘What we are trying to do is curb the booms and busts of agricultural and food prices, to provide a stable and consistent path for both farmers and customers.
“We pay our farmers a premium for the livestock they produce, which means not only are you getting a premium product, you are also helping to build a better future for farming in Australia.”
The rise of the direct farming industry comes amid growing distrust of major supermarkets such as Coles and Woolworths as prices continue to rise.
The Coles Group reported on Tuesday that sales rose but profits fell in the first half due to fierce competition and the cost of living.
“Just like households paying higher interest rates on their mortgages, we pay higher levels of interest on the debt we pay to run the business,” said Coles chairman and chief executive Leah Weckert.
The rise of the direct farming industry comes amid growing distrust of major supermarkets such as Coles and Woolworths as prices continue to rise.
Coles sales revenue rose 6.8 per cent to $22.2 billion in the 27 weeks to December 31, but profits fell 3.6 per cent to $616 million, compared with the same period from the previous year.
Facing a government investigation into allegations of price gouging, Ms Weckert said Coles made just $2.60 profit for every $100 spent in its stores, a margin that had remained stable for the past five years.
The supermarket group also faces intense competition from Woolworths, Aldi, Costco and Amazon, as well as a wide range of independent supermarkets.
Supermarket prices increased by three percent in the second quarter of 2023/24, compared to an increase of 3.1 percent in the first quarter. Prices, excluding tobacco and fresh produce, rose four percent, up from 5.7 percent.