HortNZ foundation director steps down

 Armstrong will serve as his replacement on the board until the annual general meeting in July 2015.

HortNZ president Julian Raine acknowledged the huge contribution that Gargiulo has made to the industry over more than 40 years.

"Brian was a driving force behind the establishment of HortNZ. He served on the board of one of its predecessor organisations, the New Zealand Vegetable and Potato Growers' Federation, for more than 20 years, nine of them as president," Raine says.

"He has been a tireless supporter of growers and horticulture, and has spent much of his life serving in grower representative organisations in Canterbury and nationally including in the raspberry, tomato and vegetable industry and finally in the wider horticulture industry."

Gargiulo received an MBE for his services to the horticulture in 1986.

Raine thanked Gargiulo for stepping down six months before his term expires to assist the organisation's director succession plan. "The board wishes him well and we will certainly miss his extensive knowledge and passion for the industry."

Co-opted director Hayden Armstrong is a recent appointment to the board of TomatoesNZ and has extensive experience in a range of businesses including tourism, financial services, health & fitness and recycling.

Armstrong has an MBA from Massey University and he has been a director of growing company Fairfield Estate for almost 11 years and recently took over as managing director of the company.