LOCKYER Valley beetroot producer Linton Brimblecombe says the community is on the verge of uproar over the district's iconic industry being forced to switch to alternative crops.
The community is still coming to grips with international food giant Heinz's decision to cut jobs at its Golden Circle cannery in Brisbane, meaning that beetroot production will be moved to New Zealand.
It's a bitter blow for the nine growers who have built a solid reputation for one of the tastiest ingredients of the hundreds of thousands of burgers daily eaten around Australia.
Growers say it's not just about the nine contracts impacted by the decision as it also affected producers leasing or share-farming around the beetroot venture.
"So it's actually affecting quite a few other farmers as well," Mr Brimblecombe said. "Personally, it (beetroot growing) forms a significant part of our income," he added.
While the gross income associated with growing beetroot in the Lockyer was about $10m, growers said that was just part of the story. Some 809ha of the 8000-plus hectares in the Lockyer was now at risk of being taken out of production, growers said.
Next week growers will meet Minister for Agriculture, Food and Regional Economies, Tim Mulherin, to discuss the issue.
"We will work with growers to transition into other crops or markets within Australia," Mr Mulherin said.
"Golden Circle have assured me they will be working very closely with growers to ensure they receive the support they require to transition to other crops or supply arrangements. I am advised this will include financial support," the Minister added.
Growcom CEO Alex Livingstone said it was "clearly, a business decision" by Golden Circle.
"But it will be sad to see the end of beetroot production in Queensland," he said.
