The state’s peak farming body is asking shoppers to check the label and choose Australian-grown food this Christmas.
NSW Farmers Pork Committee chair Edwina Beveridge said while fresh pork roasts would be Australian-grown, a lot of Christmas ham on sale would be made from imported meats.
“The easiest way to know you’re buying local is to look for the bone – if the ham has a bone in it then it’s Australian,” Mrs Beveridge said.
“You can also look at the country-of-origin labels: the green and gold kangaroo only indicates it was made here, you need to look at the bar chart and make sure it contains at least 90 per cent Australian ingredients.
“This simple step will help ensure we can all have a Merry Christmas.”
Despite the challenging drying conditions felt across the state, Mrs Beveridge said everything families needed for a great Christmas feast could be sourced locally.
“Farmers are in the business of growing healthy plants and healthy animals, and we enjoy knowing families are enjoying the great local food we produce,” Mrs Beveridge said.
“Please support local farming families and businesses through choosing their products when you do your Christmas shop.”