Woolworths has issued an apology over a tweet it sent an ABC journalist saying the imported beans on its shelves were "far superior" to local product.
When ABC journalist Emma Field yesterday asked Woolworths on Twitter why all the beans in the supermarket she visited were imported, the supermarket giant replied:
"Hi Emma, we're sorry to hear about disappointment towards our tinned beans. We aim to provide the best quality products to our customers and sometimes this means supplying imported products as they're far superior.
"Nonetheless, we understand your frustration and we'll be sure to pass your concerns to our relevant team for future considerations. Thanks for getting in touch and have a great day! ❤"
Local farmers groups were quick to point out that the tweet contradicted the retailer's publicly-stated support for local farmers.
According to ABC Rural, Woolworths then issued the following statement: "We apologise for yesterday's tweet - it does not reflect our view of Australian-grown products.
"In fact, 96 per cent of all our fresh fruit and vegetables is proudly sourced from Australia.
"Sometimes we do need to source products from overseas, but it's always our first preference to source locally."
