Funding to build fresh produce suppliers’ understanding of the Food and Grocery Code

This grant opportunity will provide up to $2 million in funding to fresh produce industry associations to develop and deliver training nationally that builds fresh produce suppliers’ capacity to negotiate contracts with large grocery businesses and understand their rights under the Code.

The Supporting Fresh Produce Suppliers - Food and Grocery Code Education Program grant opportunity will provide funding to fresh produce industry associations to develop and deliver training, nationally, to fresh produce suppliers (particularly smaller suppliers) to assist them to:

• understand and enforce their rights under the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct (the Code)
• build their capacity to negotiate with large grocery businesses and achieve more favourable commercial outcomes.

A total of $2 million over 3 years from 2025-26 to 2027-28 is available for the grant opportunity with up to 3 grants to be awarded.

Training funded under this program is confined to the operation of the Code and suppliers’ negotiating rights under the Code.

The intended outcomes of the program are that:

• fresh produce suppliers nationally have access to free, high quality educational services on the Code
• fresh produce suppliers nationally increase their understanding of the Code and enforcement of their rights under the Code and their capacity to negotiate with large grocery businesses.

The program will run over 3 years from 2025-26 to 2027-28.