Rising fuel prices, and floods, highlights the need for local food bowls

The average price of fuel in NSW is now $1.74 to $1.88 per litre and the increased transport costs are being passed onto the consumer.

Woolworths has already announced it will have to lift its prices because of the higher transport costs, and the other major supermarkets are expected to follow.

Combine that with the loss of crops in floods in south east Queensland and northern NSW - which will see food prices rise due to a reduced supply - and families on a budget could find themselves priced out of fresh food.

That's why Slow Food Earth Market Maitland chairwoman Amorelle Dempster is a strong advocate for Maitland's food bowl.

She said these scenarios reminded us just how important it was to be able to buy local food from local producers.

But she warned that even that will be taken away if the state government approves the draft replacement water sharing plan for the Hunter Unregulated and Alluvial Water Source 2022.

That plan would ban farmers from irrigating their crops at a certain salinity level - when they need it in times of high temperatures and low rainfall.

"The food that comes to the market travels minimum kilometres so there's no need for the farmers to increase their prices because there is no extra cost," she said.

"It's so important to have a really vibrant food system here in Maitland - we are creating a series of small-scale farms who have diversified and are very resilient.

Ms Dempster urged the city to sign the petition, which is available here

Click here to find out where you can sign the petition.

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