Australia is a dumping ground for international growers, says Ausveg spokesman

McCAIN'S decision to use cheap potato imports rather than Australian-grown product will have devastating effects on the entire industry, according to AusVeg spokesman William Churchill. Mr Churchill said the use of Australia as a dumping ground for international growers was deplorable.

Farmers and lobby groups last week demanded the Ballarat processor McCain be investigated after 28 potato suppliers' contracts were cancelled for the coming season.

Those who have maintained their contracts have had to sign confidentiality agreements and cannot disclose their future agreements with McCain, but Mr Churchill suspects they have had to drop their prices considerably to compete with cheaper imports.

"Australian growers cannot compete with the prices of imports, particularly from our European cousins,"he said.