Potato farmer protests at McCain Foods Ballarat escalating

Determined potato growers in Ballarat will take their protest to the next level after five hours of talks with McCain Foods senior management failed to reach a solution.

The region’s potato farmers began a factory gate protest at McCain Foods in Wendouree on Monday sparked by the $273.50 per tonne price offered by the company for their produce.

Yesterday a meeting between grower representatives and McCain senior management failed to break the deadlock.

Grower representative Dominic Prendergast broke the news to the crowd that McCain Foods had not moved on their offer.

“It was a hard meeting, we were in there for five hours, and we haven’t got a cent,” Mr Prendergast told the crowd. “We haven’t got anything to offer at the moment.”

McCain Foods Australia/New Zealand managing director Steve Yung said the meeting was cordial and constructive, but no final decision was made on prices for this year’s crop.

Growers moved some of the 50 tractors assembled to the other side of Ring Road effectively cutting off delivery lanes to the factory.

Protesting potato farmers also urged Ballarat residents to come down to the Ring Road site opposite McCain Foods to pick up as many McCain 1 variety potatoes as they like. Three freezer vans will be distributing the free potatoes from today.