MPI Hails Kiwifruit Boom as Horticulture Revenue Surges Past $9 Billion
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Director General Ray Smith is giving a big shout-out to the horticulture sector, especially kiwifruit.
This year’s event has attracted 1000 exhibitors, down 5% on last year.
National Fieldays chief executive Peter Nation attributes the drop to several factors: supply chain issues, staff shortage, marketing budget constraints and to some extent, timing.
The four-day event is normally held in June.
Nation says despite the drop in exhibitor numbers, it is still a big event.
He says there are some new exhibitors like Mainfreight and Sanford, a fishing company promoting aquaculture and attempting to attract staff.
While the wet weather may hamper attendance on the first day, Nation points out that the next three day forecast is fine weather.
“So, you’ll see people putting on their jandals and coming out here over the next three days.”
Speaking to journalists earlier this morning, Nation said it was wonderful to have two new major partners – Case IH and Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
Both have signed up for a three-year term.
“It’s not easy at the moment to attract new partners,” says Nation.
Addressing the media conference, Case IH ANZ general manager Pete McCann says his company was happy to be associated with the biggest agricultural show in southern hemisphere.
