Supply to hospitals dries up

A production issue at Harvey Fresh has resulted in the company’s products no longer being supplied to some of Perth’s major hospitals.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said hospitals were now being supplied by another brand.

“Due to a production issue, Harvey Fresh are temporarily supplying an alternative product,” the spokeswoman said.

Harvey shire president Tania Jackson spoke out in support of the company and hoped it was a temporary issue.

“Harvey Fresh is an iconic part of the community,” Cr Jackson said.

“We’d hate to see economic impacts due to any production problems.

“Hopefully this is a hiccup and won’t cause any lasting effects in the community.”

Harvey Fresh is the preferred supplier of juice and milk to Fiona Stanley Hospital, which forms part of the South Metropolitan Health Service.

The southern arm of the Perth hospitals network includes Fiona Stanley Hospital, Rockingham General Hospital, Fremantle Hospital, Murray District Hospital and the Peel Health Campus.

The spokeswoman said while the SMHS had not cancelled its contract with Harvey Fresh, the brand’s products were not currently being supplied.

Perth’s other hospital branches, the North Metropolitan Health Service and the Child and Adolescent Health Service, do not purchase directly from Harvey Fresh.

These two networks have a common-use agreement which lists Harvey Fresh as one of many potential suppliers.

They do not have the company as a preferred supplier and have therefore not been affected.

While the difficulties continue, Harvey Fresh has organised a different supplier to provide milk and juice products to the affected hospitals.

It is unclear how long the production issue will continue to affect supply.

Since 2014, Harvey Fresh has been owned by Parmalat Australia, which also owns brands including Paul’s, Vaalia, Oak and Ice Break.

A spokeswoman from Parmalat Australia declined to comment.