CEO report UPFRONT 

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.

A once in a decade opportunity to strengthen the Horticulture Code

In January, the Australian Government announced an independent review of the Horticulture Code of Conduct — a development that is both long overdue and critically important for vegetable growers across Western Australia.

For many growers, the Code is more than just regulation. It is a fundamental safeguard that underpins fairness, transparency, and accountability in the way fresh produce is traded. It sets expectations around contracting, pricing, payment terms, and dispute resolution — areas where power imbalances can otherwise leave growers exposed.

It has now been ten years since the Code was last reviewed, and in that decade the horticulture sector has changed significantly. Supply chains have consolidated, retail market power has increased, production costs have risen sharply, and growers are managing unprecedented pressure from labour shortages, input price volatility, climate risk, and compliance demands. Yet the Code has largely remained static.

This review presents a rare and important opportunity to ask a simple but vital question: Is the Horticulture Code still doing its job for growers?

Why the review matters

For vegetable growers, the Code is meant to provide confidence that commercial relationships are conducted in good faith and that risks are shared fairly. However, many growers continue to report challenges that suggest the current framework is not always delivering on its intent.

Issues such as unclear contract terms, limited transparency around price changes, delayed payments, unilateral variations, and reluctance to raise concerns for fear of commercial retaliation remain real and ongoing. These are not theoretical problems — they affect cash flow, investment decisions, and ultimately the long term viability of farm businesses.

A stronger voice for WA growers

vegetablesWA is actively engaging in this review process on behalf of vegetable growers in Western Australia. We are directly consulting with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the National Farmers’ Federation, the Horticulture Council, and AUSVEG to ensure WA growers’ experiences and priorities are clearly heard.

Western Australia has unique supply chain characteristics, including geographic distance to major markets, higher freight costs, and a heavy reliance on long term trading relationships. These factors must be recognised in any future version of the Code.

Our role is to ensure that the review does not become an academic exercise, but instead leads to practical, enforceable improvements that strengthen grower confidence and support a more balanced supply chain.

A modern, well functioning Code is not anti market or anti buyer. On the contrary, it provides certainty for all participants and helps build trust across the supply chain. When growers are confident, they will be treated fairly, they are better positioned to invest, innovate, and supply high quality produce to Australian consumers.

A critical moment for the industry

This review comes at a time when pressure on growers has never been greater. Rising costs, tightening margins, and increasing compliance expectations mean there is little room for unfair trading practices or opaque commercial arrangements.

The Horticulture Code of Conduct must evolve alongside the industry it governs. If it fails to do so, growers’ risk being left without an effective safety net in an increasingly concentrated and complex market.

vegetablesWA will continue to work constructively with government and industry partners to ensure this review delivers real outcomes — not just words on a page. The goal is clear: a strong, modern, and fit for purpose Code that provides a solid foundation for a fair, transparent, and competitive horticulture supply chain.

For WA vegetable growers, this is a once in a decade opportunity to help shape the rules that govern how we do business. It is one we cannot afford to miss.