The Victorian Farmers Federation is worried about the long-term future of the giant McCain Foods' processing plant in Ballarat. A McCain spokesman told the Herald Sun yesterday it had no plans to shut down the factory within the next 18 months, but was evaluating all plants in Victoria.
McCain Foods Australia and New Zealand managing director Steve Yung said: "McCain will be looking for productivity improvements from potato growers in 2012."
The news comes as potato farmers come under increasing price pressure, particularly from potatoes exported by New Zealand.