Markets & Justice

Markets & Justice
Freely operating markets yield a just outcome?

White Australia Has A Black History

White Australia Has A Black History
Showing posts with label Fair Food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fair Food. Show all posts

Wednesday, 13 January 2016

Consumer question of the day --- do you do know what FMCG stands for?

Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) or consumer packaged goods (CPG) are products that are sold quickly and at relatively low cost. Examples include non-durable goods such as soft drinks, toiletries, over-the-counter drugs, processed foods and many other consumables.[1][2]

In contrast, durable goods or major appliances such as kitchen appliances are generally replaced over a period of several years. The term was coined by Neil H. Borden in The Concept of the Marketing Mix in 1965 (1996, Prentice-Hall, Inc.).
FMCG have a short shelf life, either as a result of high consumer demand or because the product deteriorates rapidly. Some FMCGs, such as meat, fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and baked goods, are highly perishable. Other goods, such as alcohol, toiletries, pre-packaged foods, soft drinks, and cleaning products, have high turnover rates.
Though the profit margin made on FMCG products is relatively small (more so for retailers than the producers/suppliers), they are generally sold in large quantities; thus, the cumulative profit on such products can be substantial. FMCG is probably the most classic case of low margin and high volume business. (This information is from Wikipedia)
To be a pro-active consumer has always taken quite a bit of thought. 

Consumer boycotts have a long history:
1.   Boycotts as we know them today began in the nineteenth century and had quite an effect.
2.   In modern times, we are concerned about what is being added to or put into the food we purchase. As well, we are concerned about chemicals in our cleaning products and our cosmetics.

3.   We are concerned about animal welfare - cruelty, experimental research etc., lack of humane guidelines for industrial animals.  

4.   Some of us, but not enough, want to purchase Australian products.  The time has long since gone (probably late 1960s/early 1970s) when a consumer could purchase in a supermarket a trolley full of products which were produced wholly in Australia by Australian labour employed by Australian-owned companies.  

5.   Labelling is often far from truthful and/or transparent.  Major powerful food and grocery organisations such as the Australian Food & Grocery Council lobby strongly against simpler and easily understood labelling which is honest about point of origin.  So one is left to think that in the confusion there is profit!  Perhaps even an escape from Australian standards?

6.  Consumers in the 21st century have now to be conscious of Fair Trade and trade in goods produced by forced, exploited and/or slave labour --- even when those goods are made in Australia.
Major corporations are not necessarily cleanskins on this issue.  Some of these are multi-national corporations who do one thing in Australia and another in countries where they can get away with less stringent watchfulness and where consumers are unable to demand high standards.

There are no consumer visits to the Nestle factory in Tongala.
The person interested in how these well-known commonly used products
and would like to see how they are produced -
well, you won't get past the reception office and the security there.
Considering that generations of Australians have been supporting
the Tongala community, this seems a bit rich.


Saturday, 17 October 2015

Celebrating Fair Food Week at the Jiggety-Jig Farmers Market in #Ballarat

The Editor trotted off jiggety-jig to market, this morning. 
No, she didn't buy the fat pig of the nursery rhyme. 

Being vegetarian, she steered clear of the meat that was available
and focussed on bread and veges. 

 The Jiggety-Jig farmers market was on this morning. 
 Local producers. 

 It costs a little more to purchase the food available at good farmers' markets 
but it is worthwhile to spend a just a little extra 
to purchase local food of good quality 
which has not travelled far from the farm; 
where you can be absolutely guaranteed that free range eggs 
are actually free range.

It is also wise to remember that
if we don't support our local producers and makers
then, one day in the not too far away,
we will lose them.
If we lose them and make ourselves slaves
to imports and cheap foreign government subsidised food,
with these people will go the skills that
ensure that we can feed ourselves.
So purchasing from the locals
is like making a down-payment on
a sort of food insurance policy.

Below is an album of my purchases. 
Some good eating is contained therein 

Friday, 16 October 2015

Saturday, 15 August 2015

Fair Trade and Co-operatives are fair for everyone


Some words from one of our producers in the Ivory Coast, Issouf Traore, on where he would like his co-operative to...
Posted by Fairtrade Australia on Friday, 14 August 2015

Tuesday, 19 May 2015

Senate Inquiry into slave and exploited labour in Australia's fresh food chain. Woolworths admits moral responsibility but not legal responsibility.

Cross-posted with The Network

NUW National Union of WorkersUNITY IS STRENGTH Call 1300 275 689

Today saw NUW members speak at the first Senate Inquiry into Australia's temporary work visas. The NUW remains firm:
  • Coles and Woolworths have the power to fix this
  • Labour hire agencies need to be regulated
  • No workers should be forced to work for poverty wages in our fresh food supply chain
  • We cannot allow a two-class system to remain in Australia. Every worker counts!
Woolworths also appeared at today's Senate Inquiry, and admitted moral responsibility for underpaid farm workers.

However, Woolworths are still refusing to meet with workers and the NUW to talk about a Fair Food Agreement to eradicate exploitation from our fresh food. Help put the pressure on and sign the petition here!

And remember, we all have friends and family that can help. Share this petition with your community.

NUW's Godfrey Moase, Winnie Lin, Caterina Cinanni, Sherry Huang & George Robertson with Senator Sue Lines & Senator Deborah O'Neill

If you haven't watched the Four Corners program that exposed exploitation, you can watch it here. In unity,
Tim Kennedy
National Secretary
National Union of Workers
National Union of Workers
Email: nuwassist@nuw.org.au
Call: 1300 275 689
National: 833 Bourke St, Docklands VIC 3008
Click here for office locations
Website: www.nuw.org.au

© Copyright National Union of Workers


Previous posts referencing this topic 
can be found on The Network site at:

Part 1 - Slavery in Australia. Is the 'Let 'er rip" attitude on visas for overseas workers going to be stopped? The Robinvale experience

Part 2 - Names have been named in "Slaving Away".  Here they are recorded below and their responses.

Part 3: The conscious consumer becomes the aware and ethical shopper.  Destroy the slavers from the checkouts of Australia!

What are you buying? How did it get to you?  Whose hands has it passed through?


 

Thursday, 9 April 2015

Food, Food, Glorious Food - but is it Australian, do we have food security, or are a lot of us eating rubbish?


Fair Food - The Trailer from The Field Institute on Vimeo.


Anybody curious about our food system in Australia and the issues impacting it must see Fair Food the documentary. 
Screening this Saturday at midday 
at the Rural Lifestyle Expo 
at the Ballarat Showgrounds. 
http://www.ballaratfood.com/…/ballarat-fair-food-screening-…

Posted by Ballarat Food on Tuesday, 7 April 2015