Australia Post has reassured food producers who use its services, they won't be affected by the temporary pause on parcel post collections from eCommerce retailers.
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The three-day pause comes just after Australia Post gave a commitment to continue carrying perishable foods.
Due to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 in NSW, ACT and VIC Australia Post has announced it is temporarily pausing Parcel Post collections from retailers in those jurisdictions.
The pause will take place from Saturday, September 4, to 7am on Tuesday, September 7.
Australia Post said it needed to manage record volumes in parts of the network and return them to a safe and manageable level.
But small producers, who rely on Australia Post, said while they were happy they'll still be able to use the service, the corporation needed to lift its game.
LardAss Cultured Butter, Ocean Grove, owner Monica Cavarsan said giving certainty to businesses came at just the right time.
"Online has just gone crazy," Ms Cavarsan said. "To find an alternative would have been really difficult."
She said the onus was on producers to make sure what they sent was labelled as perishable.
"That's so the delivery drivers won't put it on the dashboard," she said.
It was very difficult to find perishable stickers, and the business had to make its own or source them from overseas.
"It would be nice if they sold those stickers, marked fragile, perishable or urgent, keep out of direct sunlight," she said.
"But those sort of accessories are just not available at the post office."
Delivery drivers also needed to make sure the products were put in a safe place, and out of the direct sun.
"They are not all just jumpers and shoes going through, there is also food," she said. "It's alright to say they are going to carry perishable food, but they have to carry it properly."
North Tasmanian salmon farm co-owner Ben Pyka, Deloraine, Tas said he'd received an apology from Australia Post's Business and Government executive general manager Gary Starr, over the decision to stop carrying perishable goods.
"We were part of the industry group that spoke to Australia Post about the potential disruption and he said 'we apologise for any uncertainty felt by people'," Mr Pyka said.
The intended ban made no sense.
"Look at the coronavirus pandemic, everyone in the political circles was yelling 'stay home, stay home, shop online," he said. "Get everything delivered to your door."
Mr Pyka said small businesses relied on Australia Post, because it had the biggest reach, as well as the best price point and delivery times of any delivery network.
But he said the organisation still had significant shortcomings.
"We knew they were crap, so therefore we took on board their shortcomings, and made sure our goods still arrive in good condition.
"Express Post, according to the packet, is guaranteed overnight - however, they have changed that, it's guaranteed within eight days.
"How is that in any way, shape or form, express?
"That's not express, it's normal mail, but you get to pay more for it - I suppose it's just a luxury tax."
COVID-related congestion in Sydney had further exacerbated delivery delays.
Mr Pyka said it appeared Australia Post cost-cutting was having an impact.
"For any small or medium sized business to try and get any viable customer service is difficult."
He said he would stick with Australia Post because large freight companies preferred pallet loads, over single consignments.