Chef Matt Moran’s tough words for Aussie supermarkets ... and clueless shoppers

Speaking to News Corp Australia the culinary giant encouraged the major supermarkets to do more to help the local farming industry and said shoppers also had a responsibility to adapt to seasonal cooking.

“I think (the major supermarkets) have an obligation to support the local farmers and not screw them,” Moran said.

“I’m sure they are running a business, they want to make

money, but at the same time they have got a responsibility to our local farmers.”

Moran, who runs several successful restaurants including his signature ARIA in Sydney, said shoppers also had an obligation to be prepared to accept when certain ingredients weren’t in season.

“No, we shouldn’t be buying asparagus from Peru and mangos from Mexico,” he said.

“We should be excited when they’re not in season and should be excited when they come back into season.”

Celebrity chef brand ambassador for Woolworths Jamie Oliver came under fire last year over concerns that farmers were being squeezed by up to 40 cents per crate of produce to pay for his involvement with the grocery giant.

Oliver said at the time that he had no control over what the supermarkets did but wanted them to get a fair deal.

Coles brand ambassador Curtis Stone this year was announced as a panellist for the supermarkets’s $50 million “nurture fund” for farmers which will provide interest free loans to those in the farming sector.

Stone was unavailable for comment.

Meanwhile, Moran hinted his next foray into the culinary world could be to establish his own bakery.

“I love baking, I’d love to own a bakery,” he said when asked what his next big move was.

“I spend a lot of money each year on bread so maybe it’s time to bring it all in house.”

Source: News Limited, July 18^th 2015
Originally published as: Chef Matt Moran’s tough words for Aussie supermarkets ... and clueless shoppers