Stories From Our Farmers
Minifarms is committed to supporting farmers – you only need to hear their stories to understand why. To reinforce our ethos, here’s what to tell your Pod!
If there is one lesson to learn from the Market Tour, it’s that Minifarms is not like the supermarkets. We work with the farmers, not against them.
But what exactly does this mean for your Pod Members? As Leaders, we’re in a unique position to tell the farmers’ stories on their behalf.
“The fresh produce sector is a difficult sector to work, we all know that. Every day is a bit of a gamble for the farmers,” said Marie, Hornsby Pod Leader, after her trip to Flemington Markets.
Having observed the demographic of farmers while on the Market Tour, the one thing that struck Marie was the absence of young faces.
“The farmers shared one clear message: they don’t want their children to take over the family farm. Between the weather changes, market demands, and industry pressures, it’s become incredibly challenging,” Marie told her Pod.
Adverse weather alone can significantly affect a farmer’s entire business. It can take six weeks for the ground to recuperate after an extreme weather event – that’s six weeks until anything can be planted, let alone is ready for harvest.
Then, if the produce isn’t all a specific size, shape or colour, Coles and Woolworths still have the power to reject tonnes of fruit and veg.
Kelly, Holgate Pod Leader, was blown away with the logistics of the industry.
“The effort and love that goes into getting produce into homes is immense, yet it’s wearing on the farmers and suppliers,” Kelly said.
“But they still have their humour, and the relationships between them all is something that I think holds the system in place, despite the hardship. They have each other’s backs there.”
When it came to sharing her observations with her Members, Marie signed off with an important message.
“This makes me even more grateful for all of you. By choosing to shop through Minifarms, you’re supporting these hardworking farmers and making a real difference in their lives. Your conscious choice means they can keep doing what they love, and we get to enjoy the fresh, high-quality produce,” she said.
This is the crux of Minifarms’ mission. We’re all playing a vital role in supporting the livelihoods of local, Aussie farmers.
Unlike the supermarkets, we don’t price set – we take into consideration all the variables to ensure the farmers are always paid fairly.
“It’s made quite an impact on me, and I’ve enjoyed sharing the knowledge I gained with my Pod,” said Donna, Lake Munmorah Pod Leader. “I feel like we are making a difference.”
Now it’s your turn to give a voice to our farmers and share this knowledge with your Pod Members!