Up to $2 million helps produce associations deliver training that builds suppliers’ capacity to negotiate with large grocers and understand their rights under the Code.
Current status of program
Opening Soon
Applications are expected to open on 5 December 2025.
To register your interest in seeking our assistance with applying, please contact us here.
On this page you will find
What is the Supporting Fresh Produce Suppliers – Food and Grocery Code Education Program (SFPS-FGCEP)?
The Supporting Fresh Produce Suppliers – Food and Grocery Code Education Program (SFPS-FGCEP) provides targeted funding to national fresh produce industry associations to help suppliers better understand and enforce their rights under the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct. This initiative responds to the 2023–24 Emerson Review, which identified significant power imbalances between large grocery retailers and smaller fresh produce suppliers.
Under this program, selected associations will design and deliver free, national training—including eLearning, webinars, blended learning and in-person workshops—to fresh fruit, vegetable and mushroom suppliers across Australia. Training will support suppliers to confidently negotiate with large grocery businesses and uphold their rights under the mandatory Code (effective 1 April 2025).
This program runs over three years, from 2025–26 to 2027–28.
Supporting Fresh Produce Suppliers – Food and Grocery Code Education Program level of support
A total of $2 million is available over three years (2025–26 to 2027–28).
- Minimum grant: $500,000
- Maximum grant: $2,000,000
- Up to three grants will be awarded.
- Covers up to 100% of eligible project expenditure.
Co-contribution: No co-contribution is required. Applicants may contribute cash or in-kind support, but:
- You cannot use other Commonwealth, state or local government grants to cover the remaining project costs.
- Total grant funding cannot exceed available funds ($2 million total program pool).
Supporting Fresh Produce Suppliers – Food and Grocery Code Education Program important dates
- Applications open: 5 December 2025
- Applications close: 23 January 2026 at 5:00pm AEDT
- Project earliest start: May 2026
- Project completion date: 31 March 2028
- Grant end date: 30 June 2028
- Register your interest with GrantHelper
Supporting Fresh Produce Suppliers – Food and Grocery Code Education Program objectives
The program aims to:
- Assist fresh produce suppliers to understand and enforce their rights under the Code.
- Build their capacity to negotiate with large grocery businesses.
- Deliver free and high-quality nationwide educational services.
- Support suppliers—particularly those who are smaller or disadvantaged by geography, digital literacy, language or cultural background.
- Promote training that remains accessible until the Code changes in a way that affects the content.
Intended outcomes include:
- National access to Code-specific training.
- Increased supplier confidence and capability to negotiate fair commercial outcomes.
- Improved Code enforcement and awareness across the fresh produce sector.
Projects and expenditure eligible for Supporting Fresh Produce Suppliers – Food and Grocery Code Education Program support
Eligible projects must design, develop, promote and deliver free national training on the Food and Grocery Code, targeted to fresh fruit, vegetable and mushroom suppliers—especially smaller suppliers with under $10 million in revenue or fewer than 100 employees.
Eligible Project Activities
- Research directly supporting training design and delivery
- Legal and ICT advice to ensure compliance with the Code
- Development of communication channels
- Marketing and promotional materials
- Online training (webinars, eLearning, hybrid formats)
- In-person delivery (e.g., roadshows, regional workshops)
- Participant survey design
- Activities that ensure accessibility for:
- First Nations suppliers
- CALD suppliers
- Suppliers with varied digital capability
Eligible Expenditure
- Labour and on-costs (up to 30% overhead)
- Contracted service providers
- Training and educational materials
- Domestic travel (within limits)
- Communication and promotional materials
- Recruitment and job advertising
- Venue hire for workshops
- Translation and accessibility adaptation costs
- Independent project audit
- ICT system upgrades directly related to training delivery
Full expenditure guidance included in Appendix A within the guidelines.
Ineligible Expenditures
The program will not fund:
- Costs incurred before your application is declared complete/eligible
- Capital purchases (e.g., vehicles, furniture, construction)
- Branding or logo design
- General business operating costs (utilities, rent, postage, ongoing staff training)
- Software or ICT purchases not directly related to the project
- Overseas travel
- Domestic travel exceeding 10% of total project costs
- Insurance, depreciation or land-related costs
- Costs related to grant application preparation
- Redundancy costs
- Any activities already funded by another source
Other Supporting Fresh Produce Suppliers – Food and Grocery Code Education Program important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for Supporting Fresh Produce Suppliers – Food and Grocery Code Education Program support
To apply, you must:
- Hold an ABN or ICN
- Be registered for GST
- Have an Australian bank account
- Be one of:
-
- An entity incorporated in Australia
- An incorporated trustee
- An incorporated association
Additional Requirements
You must also demonstrate that you are a national fresh produce industry association representing at least one of:
- Fresh fruit
- Fresh vegetables
- Fresh mushrooms
And satisfy one of the following membership criteria:
- 100+ individual members, or
- At least 6 member businesses, or
- At least 10 organisations/companies
You must also show capability to deliver training nationally (regional, rural, remote, metropolitan; First Nations; CALD; both members and non-members).
Supporting Fresh Produce Suppliers – Food and Grocery Code Education Program assessment criteria
Applicants must score at least 65% on each criterion.
1. Alignment with Program Objectives (40 points)
Applicants must demonstrate:
- A clear project plan and training model addressing supplier needs
- A strategy to reach smaller suppliers across metro, regional, rural, remote, First Nations and CALD communities
- Training content directly relevant to suppliers negotiating with large grocery businesses
- How the project will improve supplier capacity to enforce their rights
- A plan to achieve high client satisfaction using key performance measures such as:
-
- Number of training products
- Volume of sessions delivered
- National reach (views, downloads, participation)
- Communication outputs (newsletters, social engagement)
2. Knowledge of the Code and Its Changes (30 points)
Applicants must demonstrate:
- Strong understanding of the Food and Grocery Code
- Expertise in interpreting Code changes affecting fresh produce suppliers
- Ability to translate legal and regulatory content into practical, accessible training
- How the training model increases supplier comprehension and rights enforcement
3. Capacity, Capability and Resources (30 points)
Applicants must demonstrate:
- A detailed project plan including:
-
- Key personnel (qualifications, training, roles)
- Timeframes and earliest training delivery date
- Legal and ICT advisory arrangements
- Risk management and mitigation strategies
- Evaluation and data collection frameworks
- Compliance with privacy and data security legislation
- A detailed financial year–by–year project budget
- Evidence of organisational experience delivering training at a national scale
How do I get the Supporting Fresh Produce Suppliers – Food and Grocery Code Education Program?
Applicants must:
- Read and understand the guidelines.
- Ensure eligibility for the funding. Applicants that do not meet all the eligibility criteria will not be considered.
- Deliver the project/s as outlined in the application.
- Provide complete information requirements.
To be competitive, applicants should demonstrate:
- Clear national capability – evidence of delivering or coordinating training for suppliers across all states and territories, including rural and regional areas.
- Strong understanding of the Code – including how updates from the Emerson Review impact suppliers.
- High-quality training design – accessible, practical, targeted to smaller fresh produce suppliers, and tailored to their operational challenges.
- Robust project planning – showing achievable milestones, qualified personnel, risk management and timelines that support national rollout.
- Sound evaluation methods – clear performance indicators, data collection processes and participant feedback strategies.
- Financial readiness – accurate eligible expenditure budgeting and the capacity to manage funds responsibly.
- Sector representation – proof that your organisation meets membership and national peak body requirements.
Information to prepare for the Supporting Fresh Produce Suppliers – Food and Grocery Code Education Program application
Applicants must prepare:
- Project Plan (mandatory) including:
-
- Timeframes, milestones
- Risk management
- Detailed budget by financial year
- Evidence you are a national fresh produce industry association
- Evidence you represent fresh fruit, vegetable or mushroom suppliers
- Evidence supporting assessment criteria responses
- Trust deed (if applicable)
- Letters of support for consortium applications
Applying for the Supporting Fresh Produce Suppliers – Food and Grocery Code Education Program
Applications must be submitted through the government’s online portal: www.business.gov.au/SFPS.
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
Supporting Fresh Produce Suppliers – Food and Grocery Code Education Program resources
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