Deputy Prime Minister, Wayne Swan, and Minister for Agriculture, Joe Ludwig, have thrown their support behind the “Eat Australian on Australia Day” campaign, which is aimed at encouraging Australian consumers to pay tribute to the effort it takes to get food on our tables.

The campaign launched today has captured the attention of farmer groups Australia-wide including prawn, banana, potato and cattle producers.

Resource Consulting Services (RCS) Consultant Educator Margie Milgate, the initiator of the campaign, said farmers actually do put food on our tables and in very trying circumstances.

“Without their efforts, we really couldn’t feed our families,” she said.

“It’d be nice for Aussies to take a moment, raise their glasses and toast the efforts of our farmers this national holiday,” she said.

The inaugural “Eat Australian on Australia Day” event is being launched this morning in Brisbane.

AgForce president Brent Finlay will present Mr Swan and Senator Ludwig with a hamper of Australian produce as a symbolic gesture of appreciation for the support the Australian Government has provided in light of the climatic events of 2011.

AgForce Queensland, Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF), Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC), CANEGROWERS, Resource Consulting Services (RCS), Queensland Dairyfarmers Organisation (QDO), Cotton Australia, Tasmanian Farmers & Graziers Association (TFGA), Australian Prawn Farmers’ Association (APFA), Potatoes South Australia (PSA) Growcom and financial services provider Intellichoice have worked together on the concept.

Mr Finlay said the concept was a brilliant idea especially given 2012 is the Australian Year of the Farmer.

“Last year was a tough year for Queensland farmers especially and we had amazing stories of extraordinary efforts to keep food flowing through to supermarket shelves,” Mr Finlay said.

“Aussie farmers are highly valued by the community, and this is a terrific way to show it,” he said.

A Facebook Page has also been created in support of the occasion, with agricultural organisations encouraging people to ‘like’ the page and add their own videos and photos to promote Aussie produce.