Farming News - Australian growers go online to sell produce
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Australian growers go online to sell produce
Australian garlic growers are benefiting from high sales after moving their business online. A number of growers who chose to sell their produce direct on the internet, thereby shortening the supply chain, have said they sold large amounts and expect sales to double in 2012.
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Online shopping has proven a good way to find organic and local sellers, which has attracted increasingly large numbers of households and small businesses. Garlic lends itself to this model as it stores well and is easy to deliver. One farmer told the Australian press, "It's perfect, customers have a common connection to our farm; they can follow us online and meet the people who grow their food."
Similarly, in France last year a number of farmers joined together to sell their produce via the internet through an online market place which informs customers of the nearest supplier of a range of items including cheese, wine and fresh produce. The French farmers claimed selling online is more sustainable as, shortening the supply chain it generally keeps money circulating in the local economy, does away with needless transportation and results in better returns for the farmers themselves.