Valuable discussions with growers

The HortNZ team has had valuable and constructive discussions with growers over the past week.

The Canterbury grower meeting at Lincoln, attended by growers and some product groups highlighted how closely HortNZ works with product groups to ensure there is no duplication of work in all that is done to support the sector.

Generally crop specific marketing, biosecurity  research and development is the responsibility of product groups, however when an issue or topic affects the whole industry, HortNZ takes a strong leadership role and advocates on behalf of all growers.

We will be taking all feedback from the grower consultation meetings into account when we discuss the proposed setting of the levy rate ahead of the levy referendum. Growers will then get a chance to vote over May and June and I really encourage everyone to have their say.

We’re a united pan-sector voice and a powerful advocate for growers with Government. HortNZ advocates for collective grower interests in areas such as the environment, resource management, food safety and biosecurity.

HortNZ is proud of our achievements for growers over the past six years – notably the strong advocacy from HortNZ during the various COVID-19 lockdowns that enabled growers to continue to harvest crops and supply domestic and export markets and quarantine-free travel for RSE workers, leading the cyclone recovery and securing policy gains for the sector.

Our three key priorities are water allocation and storage; climate change and adaptation; food security and supply.

Across the globe and in New Zealand, the notion of food security has become increasingly important and in New Zealand there is a direct correlation with access to fruit and vegetables.

We are advocating for policy and regulatory settings that enable growers to provide a reliable and resilient supply of fresh fruit and vegetables and contribute positively to New Zealand’s food security.

We’re looking forward to seeing growers in Kerikeri this afternoon, Tauranga on Monday and Cambridge on Tuesday.

You can find a full list of the meetings here.