THAT sentiment is reflected in the latest industry sentiment report, which shows two in five vegetable growers are considering leaving the industry within the next 12 months. For many, current business conditions are described as the most challenging of their careers. This should be a serious warning sign for anyone concerned about the future of domestic food production.

Growers are under pressure from all sides. Unsustainable increases in production costs, ongoing workforce shortages, rising compliance burdens, declining vegetable consumption, and increasing difficulty in securing viable returns are all taking their toll. These pressures are only compounded by extreme weather events and ongoing biosecurity threats, adding further uncertainty to already tight margins.

There is no single, quick fix solution to these challenges. They are complex, structural, and long standing. However, that does not mean change is impossible — or optional.

This is why vegetablesWA continues to pursue consistent and persistent advocacy on behalf of growers, pushing for political reform and real, practical change across government and industry. Our focus remains on improving the conditions under which growers operate and ensuring their voices are heard clearly by decision makers.

These are tough times, but growers are not facing them alone. vegetablesWA remains committed to standing with you and advocating for a more sustainable future for our industry.