Consumers aid strawberry recovery
QUEENSLAND strawberry consumers may soon know the back story of their fruit as State Government money helps firm up traceability and integrity in the supply chain, improving industry export opportunities.
As The Chronicle ends a seven part part series on the industry’s recovery following the September sabotage crisis, industry spokesman Sean Dignum said the strawberry industry, and Australian food production generally, already had an enviable global reputation for food safety and security.
But directing part of the state Government’s $1 million industry assistance package, announced following the September sabotage, toward firming up details of the supply line would only further benefit the industry.
The industry is expected to make a public declaration of appreciation within the next few weeks after consumers flooded onto farms to buy strawberries and businesses, including Newstead Brewing CO, came up with innovative ways to use strawberries.
Newstead’s marketing manager, Darren Magin, said the brewer was happy to make a strawberry beer to help growers.
But the brewer was stunned at the public reception which was so positive there are tentative plans for another batch.
“It was just an extremely good beer so definitely we might look at doing something early next year,” he said.