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1 week ago | 
abc.net.au | Jane McNaughton |Warwick Long
The Melbourne Market Authority is threatening wholesalers with legal action over a new rental agreement. The Valuer-General has declared a compromised rate of yearly rent increases of between 2.4 per cent and 3.6 per cent after protests from vendors. Vendors have been given 30 days to agree to pay higher rents or face eviction. A Victorian government body is threatening vendors at the Melbourne Market with legal action as a stoush over rent increases continues.
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1 month ago | 
abc.net.au | Angus Verley |Jane McNaughton
A company is proposing to build a 250-kilometre-long underground transmission line in Victoria. Syncline Energy says the line would delay the need to build two controversial projects. An energy policy researcher says the proposal is worthy of serious consideration but the state government says initial analysis shows significant challenges.
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2 months ago | 
abc.net.au | Jane McNaughton |Warwick Long |Ashlee Aldridge
The Victorian Farmers Federation says phasing out caged eggs will affect people during a cost of living crisis. Supermarket chains Woolworths, Coles and Aldi say they will phase out caged eggs this year. Standards are yet to be created for the caged egg phase out. Victoria's peak farming body wants the state and federal governments to pause the looming phase out of conventional caged eggs.
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Jan 9, 2025 | 
abc.net.au | Elsie Adamo |Jane McNaughton
Empty egg shelves and purchase limits have returned to some major supermarkets as shortages continue to impact consumers. The shortage stems from a combination of avian influenza impacts, seasonal demand, and a shift away from caged eggs, according to the Australian egg industry. Third-generation caged-egg farmer Danyel Cucinotta, from Werribee in Victoria, said consumers had been on the lookout for eggs. "Plenty of friends have been calling me asking why they can't get eggs," she said.
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Jan 6, 2025 | 
abc.net.au | Emma D'Agostino |Jane McNaughton
A regional Victorian tomato and zucchini farmer has quit the industry in protest over farmgate prices. He said the discrepancy between what farmers are paid and what the product retails for is pushing people out of the industry. The new Food and Grocery Code of Conduct, aimed to restore the power imbalance faced by farmers from supermarkets, comes into effect in April. To say that Ross Marsolino has had a gutful is probably underselling it.
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Dec 22, 2024 | 
abc.net.au | Jane McNaughton
Recent data from Coles shows how our Christmas lunch is changing. Chicken sales are doubling, while turkey sales are in decline as people opt for cheaper cuts in supermarkets. Ham remains a popular choice. Turkey is in decline, chicken is on the rise and ham remains a popular choice for Christmas lunches in Australia. Recent data from Coles shows turkey remains a "stable choice" for those wanting a more traditional lunch, but sales have reduced at independent chain Ritchies IGA.
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Dec 21, 2024 | 
abc.net.au | Jane McNaughton
Common and pygmy hippopotamuses can be imported to Australian zoos after a 40-year hiatus. Werribee Zoo plans to import a male common hippo in 2025. Zoos hope to be able to boost their breeding programs as male hippos are brought in. Pygmy and common hippos are bound for Australia as a 40-year import hiatus on the vulnerable African herbivores is lifted.
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Dec 3, 2024 | 
abc.net.au | Warwick Long |Jane McNaughton
A former rice farmer has spotted what he believes are rice plants inside brooms for sale at Bunnings. A Bunnings spokesperson says the company takes biosecurity "very seriously" and has removed the items from shelves while an investigation is conducted. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is also investigating the imported brooms. Bunnings is investigating a potential biosecurity incident involving millet brooms at a store in the New South Wales Riverina region.
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Dec 1, 2024 | 
abc.net.au | Jane McNaughton |Emma Field
Locally grown meat from small-scale farmers could be a thing of the past after another Victorian abattoir revealed it would not take on any more small orders. Kilcoy Global Foods, otherwise known as Hardwicks, which has an abattoir near Kyneton in central Victoria, said it wouldn't take orders below 15 head of beef or 50 head of lambs from the start of next year. The letter sent by the company to existing clients said the decision was made after a "detailed review of our existing arrangements".
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Nov 2, 2024 | 
abc.net.au | Jane McNaughton
It could be as simple as swapping out a lime for a lemon, or beans for asparagus; experts say shopping seasonally will save you money on your next grocery bill. The price of produce can fluctuate greatly throughout the year, depending on what is in its best growing season, weather conditions, and how far the food needs to travel before arriving at your local grocer.
