The Liberal-National Government has reaffirmed its commitment to Western Australia's horticulture sector and small business by investing $8million in a major expansion of the Canning Vale Market City site.
Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman said a new 4,000sqm multi-user cold chain warehouse would allow the State's many small and independent growers and wholesalers to compete with major retailers by giving them the opportunity to expand their businesses.
"Much of the produce bought and sold at Market City goes directly to the independent supermarkets and grocers," Mr Redman said.
"The expansion will provide much-needed additional capacity to more than 50 wholesalers who use the site to store, buy and sell quality fresh produce.
"The market directly supports the activities of our regional and remote famers and the regional communities within which they operate."
Market City is the State's wholesale fresh produce market. It provides independent food retailers, hospitality and associated industries with access to convenient, quality fresh produce to support their business activities.
"However, the site has been operating at 100 per cent capacity for the past five years and is clearly in need of expansion," the Minister said.
"WA's horticulture sector is set to grow significantly with major development under way in the Ord irrigation area and the Gascoyne food bowl, which is why added capacity at Market City is so important."
The Liberal-National Government's commitments to grow WA's agricultural sector include:
$331million on Ord Irrigation Area expansion
$45million on Gascoyne Food Bowl expansion
$7.8million towards irrigated agricultural development in the Kimberley
$3.8million to develop more efficient irrigation in the South-West.
Fact File
The new cold storage warehouse at Market City will take 2 years to complete at an estimated cost of $8m
49% by volume (66% by value) of WA's fruit & vegetables goes through the Market City site
In 2010-11, WA's horticultural production was valued at $820million
The total value-added contribution from horticulture to WA's economy is estimated at $2b
For more information visit http://www.perthmarket.com.au/
Minister's office - 6552 6700
