Hogan Urges Coles to Reverse Local Produce Decision

Local farmers say Australian-grown is not always locally grown—and they want North Coast produce returned to North Coast shelves.

North Coast representatives and growers are calling on Coles to retain its direct supply arrangement for locally grown bananas, cucumbers and pumpkins.

Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan has called on Coles to reconsider its decision to end a longstanding arrangement for locally grown bananas and other fresh produce to be supplied directly to Coffs Coast supermarkets.

The change affects produce supplied through local wholesaler Golden Dawn, including bananas, cucumbers and Kent and butternut pumpkins grown across the Coffs Harbour district.

Under the decision, which is expected to take effect in October 2026, bananas sold in affected Coles stores will largely be supplied from North Queensland rather than nearby farms.

Mr Hogan said the change was unacceptable when the same produce was being grown within the region.

“Our farmers work hard, employ locals and produce some of the best food in Australia,” Mr Hogan said.

“This decision is wrong. We should be backing our local farmers and buying Australian produce grown right here in our region.

“Coles needs to reconsider this decision and back the communities that support their stores.”

Growers face loss of major customer

Local farmers previously supplied produce directly to Coles supermarkets through their commercial arrangement with Golden Dawn.

Coles advised the wholesaler of its final decision in October 2025 and provided a 12-month transition period. The supermarket said it had first discussed the proposed changes with Golden Dawn in August 2024.

Growers argue that losing access to a major supermarket customer will create uncertainty for local farming families and could force more produce into wholesale markets elsewhere.

Selling through metropolitan markets can expose growers to additional transport and handling costs while producing less predictable returns.

NSW Farmers spokesperson and local banana grower Paul Shoker told ABC News that up to 40 farming families could be affected.

Coffs Harbour and District Banana Growers Association secretary-treasurer Mick Gentle questioned the logic of transporting bananas about 1,600 kilometres from North Queensland when fruit is grown only kilometres from local supermarkets.

He said the decision could place further pressure on the long-term sustainability of the Coffs Coast banana industry.

The region’s farmers are already managing rising input costs, difficult seasonal conditions and the commercial pressures faced by smaller agricultural businesses.

Coles points to supply-chain changes

Coles has described the decision as part of a wider change to its fresh produce supply model rather than a criticism of local growers or the quality of their produce.

“We regularly review our supply chain to ensure we are delivering the best value, quality and availability for our customers,” a Coles spokesperson said.

The company said it was moving away from direct-to-store produce arrangements towards a more consistent operating model across its supermarket network.

Coles acknowledged that the change would affect some existing supplier arrangements and said the decision had not been made lightly.

The supermarket also stressed that it would continue to source all its bananas from Australian growers.

Therefore, the dispute is not about replacing Australian bananas with imports. Instead, it concerns which Australian growing regions and supply arrangements will provide fruit to Coffs Coast stores.

Coles also maintains other substantial relationships with growers in the region. The company says it sources more than 20,000 tonnes of blueberries each year from about 100 Coffs Coast farms, representing approximately 70 per cent of its national blueberry volume.

Farmers seek alternative buyers

Affected growers are now considering alternative markets for produce that would otherwise have been supplied to Coles.

Woolworths has reportedly agreed to purchase some of the excess supply, while individual growers are exploring wholesale, retail and farmgate sales.

However, farmers say finding new buyers for the full volume previously supplied through Golden Dawn may be difficult.

The loss of a large supermarket customer can have consequences beyond individual farms. Growers employ local workers and purchase machinery, packaging, transport and professional services from other regional businesses.

A community petition has been launched urging Coles to reverse the decision and restore its direct purchasing relationship with North Coast farmers.

The petition specifically identifies Coles stores at Coffs Harbour, Moonee and Toormina and calls for locally grown bananas, cucumbers and pumpkins to remain available through those outlets.

Mr Hogan has joined Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh and local farming representatives in calling for the supermarket to reconsider.

Mr Singh said locally grown produce should continue to be supplied to consumers on the Coffs Coast.

Growers have also sought an urgent meeting with Coles and state and federal representatives to discuss the reasons for the change and possible alternatives.

For now, Coles has defended the move as part of its broader supply-chain strategy. Local farmers and their supporters, however, maintain that a streamlined national system should not come at the expense of viable regional producers and locally supplied food.