Sweet Potatoes Australia is reassuring the community extra steps have been taken to ensure the supply of an abundance of quality fresh produce, while also employing new staff, during Covid-19.
Sweet Potatoes Australia General Manager Damien Botha said since the health concerns and national protocols came into effect surrounding Coronavirus, both Sweet Potatoes Australia and Greensill Farming Group had increased their workloads to meet demands.
Damien said in the last week they had been able to help support locals from the hospitality and retail industries who had lost their jobs.
“With our increased production in our packing facility we have been able to hire several new team members,” he said.
“The message is one of reassurance and giving thanks.
“We are very privileged in this amazing country that we live in to have an abundant supply of quality fresh produce, and with patience, there is well and truly enough to serve our needs.”
Damien said the remarkable teams working within the two businesses ensured they were doing what was needed to meet increased production.
“I need to give thanks to our amazing teams, from harvesting to packing, and all those working within our business, as the workload has never been larger – working day and night, when and where required,” he said.
“Our people – our greatest assets – are doing an amazing job.”
He said with the increased need for agriculture across the world it was important to maintain not only a high standard of workplace health and safety, but also a high level of communication with both employees and business partners.
“We are making sure we are diligent in ensuring we know where the people who are coming to work for us have been and how long they’ve been in Bundaberg- this is really important to us,” he said.
“We have added additional PPE, rearranged our shifts and are doing what we can to meet demand.”
Strong supply of sweet potatoes despite Covid-19
Damien said there was a strong supply of local produce available, and although buying habits were changing rapidly since the Coronavirus situation emerged, he wanted to encourage people to buy what they would in normal circumstances in order to support the farmers and their employees.
“We will come out of this stronger at the other end,” he said.
“So, in a time of uncharted territory for us all, I ask you to have patience.
“Work with the major retailers and understand the logistical challenges they face, but most importantly we will work harder than ever to keep quality fresh produce on our shelves.
“Eat healthy Australia, look after yourselves, and most importantly we are all in this together.”
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