Karl Stefanovic and Georgie Gardner have joined thousands of Australians in supporting the nation’s farmers left devastated by the needle contamination crisis.
The Today Show was in Queensland on Wednesday where they met with strawberry growers and emboldened their ‘Cut ’em up, don’t cut ’em out’ campaign.
Stefanovic also tucked in to strawberries as the cameras rolled in Wamuran, while studio-based Gardner told how she had recently stocked up on six punnets.
The campaign, which has lit up social media, aims to support producers who have been crippled by the discovery of needles in strawberries in every Australian state.
Today Show co-host Karl Stefanovic (left) joined with strawberry growers in Queensland on Wednesday to support the ‘Cut ’em up, don’t cut ’em out’ campaign
Stefanovic (pictured left and right) ate a strawberry on live television as he showed his support for Australia’s strawberry growers
Georgie Gardner (right, pictured with Sylvia Jeffreys on Wednesday) said she had purchased six punnets of strawberries on Tuesday
The campaign calls on Australian to support the nation’s farmers left devastated by the needle crisis
It encourages shoppers to ‘please continue to support Aussie farmers especially through these berry-tough times’.
Strawberry farmer Gavin Scurr told Stefanovic the message he wanted to get across to Australians was to ‘keep eating strawberries, they’re a fantastic product’.
‘Nothing’s been proven at any level yet so it’s probably unlikely this happened on a farm and yet the farmers are the ones bearing the brunt of this. We’re facing financial ruin,’ Mr Scurr said.
‘We really encourage consumers to get behind us, buy a strawberry (and) just cut it up if you’re concerned.’
Gardner said she had purchased the strawberries to place in the freezer after cutting them up and said Australians can ‘all help and contribute and support our farmers’.
‘It’s just heartbreaking to see what they’re experiencing,’ she said.
Social media has lit up with calls for Australians to support the ‘cut ’em up, don’t cut ’em out’ campaign
Stefanovic said it was ‘a $200million industry which has been brought to its knees’.
He said he had been hearing from farmers ‘about how significant it is for them, how close they are, for many, to going under, and just surviving is the priority at the moment for so many’.
The South Australian Produce Market took to Facebook to share an image of the campaign graphic.
‘Cut up the strawberries you buy. It’s as easy as chopping the top off, cutting across the strawberry and enjoy,’ the caption accompanying the post said.
The graphic was also shared on social media by the Western Australian Farmers Federation.
‘Don’t forget to keep buying and nibbling on strawberries. We have some of the best strawberries in the country so support our local farmers and trust the quality,’ WA Farmers posted on Twitter.
Senator Bridget McKenzie said: ‘As the Minister responsible for Food Safety, I want to reassure the public that our systems are working to coordinate a response to this appalling criminal act. Remember: Keep buying Australian produce and #cutthemup’.
Six strawberry farms in Queensland and one in Western Australia have been targeted by what authorities believe could have been disgruntled packaging employees
This map show the cases of strawberry tampering which have emerged across the country in a ‘food terrorism’ saga
Horrifying cases of needles and razors found inside fruit by stunned shoppers have surfaced in every state, with at least 13 people sharing their experience online.
Six strawberry farms in Queensland and one in Western Australia have been targeted by what authorities believe could have been disgruntled packaging employees.
Six brands of strawberry – Donnybrook Berries, Love Berry, Delightful Strawberries, Oasis, Berry Obsession and Berry Licious – have been recalled amid the contamination scare which has devestated the industry.
The Australian federal government has launched an investigation to restore confidence after needles were reportedly found in strawberries in all six Australian states, although no injuries have yet been reported.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk issued a $100,000 reward for information leading to the capture of the saboteur. Anyone caught placing needles inside fruit will face up to 10 years in jail, police announced on Tuesday.
Head of the Western Australia Strawberry Growers Association, Jamie Michael, has shared images of truckloads of strawberries being off-loaded