Govt urged to focus on hort
Horticulture NZ Barry O’Neil wants the incoming government to have a greater focus on horticulture.
Tomatoes New Zealand is encouraging NZ consumers to buy local and support New Zealand tomato growers.
“Fresh, New Zealand-grown tomatoes are in good supply as we enter spring,” says Tomatoes New Zealand chair, Barry O’Neil.
“But we also have significant volumes of imported irradiated Australian tomatoes in the market (almost 168.5 tonnes in June and July 2023).”
O’Neil explains that some imported fresh produce is irradiated to lessen the risk of fruit fly coming into New Zealand. It is a requirement that irradiated fresh produce be labelled so that consumers are aware.
“The industry has had several challenging years, where it has had to manage disease pressures, mainly due to the very poor weather,” he explains. “Also, being part of the ETS, along with ongoing production cost increases, has put many growers in uncertain financial positions.”
O’Neil says, over winter, retailers will import cheaper fresh tomatoes from Australia, which are not subject to similar ETS costs in Australia. He adds this means New Zealand growers compete on an unlevel playing field.
“However, by buying New Zealand-grown tomatoes, consumers will be supporting local growers and helping to ensure New Zealand’s long-term food security, by supporting local jobs and businesses.”
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has informed staff it will cut 391 jobs following a consultation period.
OPINION: This old mutt well remembers the wailing, whining and gnashing of teeth by former West Coast MP and Labour…
OPINION: Your canine crusader gets a little fed up with the some in media, union hacks, opposition politicians and hard-core…