Rain puts damper on Xmas berry harvest
A big December wet spell threw a spanner in the works for Canterbury berry growers during the vital pre-Christmas trade.
The importance of strong country of origin labelling reform has been highlighted by a recent international health scare, with four cases of hepatitis A being linked to frozen berries.
AUSVEG claims that the New Zealand health scare, which echoes the outbreak of hepatitis A linked to imported frozen berries in Australia earlier this year, highlights the need for regulations which give consumers the power to choose where their food comes from.
Deputy CEO of AUSVEG Andrew White says, given the similarities that took place in both Australia and New Zealand this year, country of origin labelling is more important than ever.
Australia's leading horticultural body, AUSVEG, representing more than 9,000 Australian vegetable and potato growers, has been an outspoken advocate of labelling reform over many years.
"In recent weeks, we've seen New Zealand raise concerns in the Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation about the impact that Australian country of origin labelling reforms could have on New Zealand food producers who import food into Australia," says White.
White says country of origin labelling will introduce transparency so consumers can make informed decisions about their food purchases.
"The only producers who could possibly be hurt by this kind of reform are those who are importing dangerous produce from countries with lax food safety standards and want to hide this vital information from consumers."
The new health scare has led to New Zealand's opposition parties calling on the Government to introduce mandatory Country of Origin Labelling. New Zealand currently only has voluntary labelling laws.
"It's encouraging to see both the New Zealand Labour Party and the Green Party of New Zealand come forward and call for mandatory Country of Origin Labelling," says White.
"Shoppers deserve to have this kind of information available to them in the supermarket aisle, and New Zealand's statement to the Ministerial Forum goes against all principles of consumer rights."
"Transparent food labelling must apply equally to all countries, regardless of trading relationships, so that consumers get the information they want and sorely need.
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
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