The upping of the mushroom levy which has caused such consternation for Costa in Australia is becoming a running political battle in the country's parliament. One side of the debate is saying that all agricultural Research and Development Corporation (RDC) levies are at risk if the mushroom levy increase is reversed by federal parliament.
The Australian Mushroom Growers’ Association estimated the current levy would cost growers less than 2pc of the wholesale price they received for their product - about 8 cents per kilogram of mushrooms sold. Costa, which is set to pay $1.6 million per year - up from $800,000 - is battling to have the levy increase reversed. Stalker read that the mango industry ain't happy about the mushroom industry move either. Sounds like a right royal barney down under.
