Nationals Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh has thanked the community for backing in Coffs Coast farming families as they endure tough economic times.
At Coffs Harbour's Brelsford Park today, Mr Singh took delivery of a change.org petition, which has close to 40,000 signatures protesting Coles' decision to abandon Coffs Coast farmers and local produce.
"Coles should reverse this appalling decision to stop buying bananas, cucumbers and Kent and butternut pumpkins directly from local growers for its Coffs Harbour, Moonee, and Toormina stores," Mr Singh said.
"It's a move which has broken the hearts of our local farmers and threatened their livelihoods.
"When I met with Coles, I urged them to reverse the decision and to meet face-to-face with affected farmers to explain why they've cut local produce from their local supermarkets.
"So far, Coles has failed to do so and in my view, that's pretty poor."
Mr Singh said the focus now should be on the future, by continuing to promote the Coffs Coast's fruit and vegetables to the world.
"Let's face it, our local produce is renowned for its unrivalled quality and flavour. Why would you want to buy your fruit and vegetables from anywhere else?" Mr Singh said.
"I will keep pushing for a fairer deal, too, between the major supermarkets and the growers who supply them."
Coffs Coast banana growers' campaigner Leanne Gentle said the groundswell of community support had been reassuring and deeply appreciated.
"We've been overwhelmed by the amount of public support for Coffs Coast local growers during this campaign, with hundreds of positive comments about supporting local food producers," Mrs Gentle said.
"While Coles has refused to reconsider their position, this campaign appears to have awoken a Local Food Movement. This is driving consumers to think about where their food is grown and where they can purchase it from."
