Farmers are reassuring consumers there is no need to fear food shortages in Australia as the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic.
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NSW Farmers' vice president Chris Groves said farmers in NSW and across the country are busy doing what they do best- producing local food and fibre.
"The hens are still laying eggs, the dairy cows are still being milked, grain growers are preparing winter crops, orchards are still bearing fruit and Australian farmers are still producing the world's best produce," Mr Groves said.
"This unprecedented event will have an impact on our export markets, which take around 75 per cent of what farmers produce, but Australians can be assured that there will be more than enough food for them."
"We don't rely on any other country to feed us. We want consumers to keep in mind both rice and wheat are grown here in New South Wales along with the vast majority of our fruit and vegetables. There's no need to panic if there's no rice or pasta on supermarket shelves."
"The drought is still lingering and farmers are recovering from bushfires, but fresh food items likes apples and bananas are being picked now and the livestock sector is maintaining supply."
"It's incumbent on supermarkets to work closely with farmers to ensure readily available produce at this time," Mr Groves concluded.