Investment firm Blue River Group (BRG) has agreed to acquire Riverina Fresh from Fonterra, the world’s biggest dairy exporter, but farmers will have to wait until Thursday to see how the deal will affect them.

It’s been a turbulent year for Australia’s dairy industry, with revelations some dairy farmers were being paid below cost for their milk, sparking a massive public backlash.

Simone Jolliffe, the Euberta-based vice president of Australian Dairy Farmers, said she was hopeful about the future.

“There are two aspects of this deal of interest to us; the immediate concerns of who our contacts will be and if it will be business as usual in terms of price,” Ms Jolliffe said.

“But it’s been purchased by an investment group so they must have done due diligence and be confident.”

According to BRG, the sale should be finalised by October and offers of employment have been made to Fonterra employees.

A BRG spokeswoman said there was “no reason to believe it won’t be business as usual” after the sale was finalised.

“BRG will consult with all Riverina Fresh farmers about the acquisition and will be meeting with them this week,” she said. “We’re committed to the Wagga region and the farming families behind Riverina Fresh. We’re confident our investment in the business will provide strong ongoing support to the regional dairy industry.”