Horticulture New Zealand has teamed up with WorkSafe New Zealand to create a health and safety toolkit specifically designed for horticulture businesses.

"Managing health and safety in the workplace is a critical issue for horticulture businesses," Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Mike Chapman says. "Keeping up with what is required is something we can help growers with.

"Working with WorKSafe, we have been able to customise a toolkit, called Keep Safe, Keep Growing, which includes both a written booklet and an easy-to-work-through online guide to help growers identify and manage health and safety risks.

"The guideline is targeted at those who are responsible for the management of health and safety in a horticulture business. It covers the steps that growers should take to build a health and safety system.

"Features include a guide for visitors to a property, tools and training resources for workers and contractors, and the ability to create risk assessments for Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) audits that are part of many horticulture businesses."

Horticulture New Zealand represents 5,500 commercial fruit and vegetable growers who employ 60,000 people. A copy of the Keep Safe, Keep Growing guide will be posted to all growers over the coming days. Additional copies will be available from Horticulture New Zealand on request. The online guide can be found here.

Corrections Minister Louise Upston says an initiative between Corrections and Horticulture New Zealand is proving beneficial to the department’s goal of turning offenders’ lives around.

Following the successful first year of a pilot programme in Hawke’s Bay that was established to help ex-prisoners and community-based offenders find sustainable employment in the horticulture industry, Corrections and Horticulture New Zealand are now looking to expand the initiative into the Bay of Plenty.

The agreement supports training packages that help prisoners become work-ready for employers and offer permanent career opportunities in horticulture to prisoners once released.

“This initiative has been a win-win and Corrections is appreciative of the support and leadership provided by the horticulture sector, which is helping change the lives of offenders and providing renewed hope for their families,” Ms Upston says.

“The pilot provides practical training for eligible prisoners who want a career in horticulture and will stay within the Hawke’s Bay area upon release. It allows prisoners to leave prison with meaningful skills and qualifications, it provides the industry with trained and qualified employees that will help fill continued labour shortages which will in turn benefit the community.

“Three ex-offenders have found employment through this partnership in the horticulture industry to date. While the number of placements appears small, new individual employer partnership agreements have been signed with four other large horticulture employers who want to support this initiative,” Ms Upston says.

Horticulture is New Zealand’s fourth largest export industry with a turnover of $5 billion. The industry has set itself a target of achieving an industry value of $10 billion by the year 2020. To achieve this target, the industry will need to attract a significant number of trained and qualified horticultural staff to fill a recognised shortage in permanent roles across the country, but especially around the East Coast, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Northland, Manawatu, Nelson/ Marlborough, and Central Otago.

| A Beehive release  ||  July 19,  2017   |||

New changes to update kiwifruit regulations and help future-proof the industry will come into force on 1 August 2017, Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy has announced today.

“These changes were announced last year and will help ensure the industry is best structured for future growth,” says Mr Guy.

New amendments to the Kiwifruit Export Regulations will:

• allow Zespri shareholders to consider setting rules around maximum shareholding and eligibility for dividend payments;
• clarify the activities Zespri can undertake as a matter of core business; and
• enhance the independence and transparency of the independent industry regulator, Kiwifruit New Zealand.

“These changes will give Zespri more options for promoting the ownership of its shares by active kiwifruit growers.

“They will give Zespri greater certainty for investing in activities such as research and development and in the marketing of New Zealand-grown kiwifruit, and ensuring that Kiwifruit New Zealand has the skill sets it needs to robustly consider collaborative marketing applications.

“These amendments won’t change the industry’s ‘single desk’ export framework, but will provide more certainty for Zespri’s shareholders and growers.

“These regulatory updates are the Government’s response to the industry’s self-review of its performance through the Kiwifruit Industry Strategy Project.”

Kiwifruit sales from New Zealand have reached record levels with 137.7 million trays sold in the year to March 2017, worth over $2 billion in export revenue. Global sales revenues are forecast to reach $4.5 billion by 2025.

| A Beehive release  || July 11,  2017   |||

New Zealand’s horticulture industry has been valued at a record NZ$8.7bn, with more than NZ$5bn in exports

iwifruit and wine are leading New Zealand’s growing horticulture industry, with the country exporting a record NZ$5.1bn in produce in the year to June 2016.

Accounting for around 10 per cent of New Zealand’s merchandise export income, the record value is up 19 per cent on last year, according to the latest issue of Fresh Facts, published by Plant & Food Research.

Total fresh fruit exports increased 35 per cent to NZ$2.6bn, with kiwifruit exports up 42 per cent to NZ$1.7bn, apple exports up 23 per cent to NZ$692m. Blueberries and cherries saw increased of 50 per cent and 30 per cent, respectively, while avocado exports dropped to NZ$82.6m due to a smaller export volume.

Peter Landon-Lane, CEO of Plant & Food Research, said the value of New Zealand’s exports from horticulture has increased 50 per cent since 2010.

“The horticulture industry’s success is based on efficient production and supply systems, cultivars that meet global consumer requirements for novelty and taste, and strong branding of New Zealand products,” Landon-Lane said. “This focus on capturing value across the supply chain means we can continue to produce more and better food for ourselves and consumers around the world.”

New Zealand exported fruit, vegetables and flowers to more than 124 countries in 2016, compared to 117 countries in 2010, with Asia the leading market for New Zealand horticulture exports at NZ$1.9bn – more than twice the value of any other region.

The total horticulture industry is worth NZ$8.7bn, with New Zealanders spending NZ$1bn on fresh and processed fruit, and NZ$1.3bn on vegetables over the year.

“It’s exciting to see the horticulture industry is on track to meet its goal of NZ$10bn by 2020,” said Mike Chapman, CEO of Horticulture New Zealand. “Our keen understanding of the global consumer and the commitment to quality at every stage of the value chain means our produce commands a premium in the marketplace, and this is reflected in the outstanding growth of the industry.”

|  A n Asia Fruit release  |  May 25, 2017   |||

If the UK adopts a 'New Zealand trade model' to source more affordable deals for its consumers, it could have a profound effect on olive oil exporters that have faced hurdles when exporting to EU countries.

 At the end of March, UK Minister Theresa May officially triggered Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon, setting in motion the two-year negotiation process of Britain leaving the European Union – or as it’s more commonly referred to, Brexit.

The move signals a fundamental change in the way the EU and Britain will conduct trade now and in the future. Not only will this affect trade agreements between the UK and the EU (allowing the UK to freely sell goods to EU countries without incurring additional import taxes), but it’s also set to have a massive impact on food imports which could create new trade opportunities for olive oil producers and exporters located outside of the EU.

The UK currently has a strong reliance on food imports, with an estimated 27 percent of all food eaten in the UK (by value) and 40 percent of all fresh produce coming from the EU. In total, 2016 saw £47.5 billion ($60.8 billion) in food and agricultural products being imported into the UK, of which over 70 percent came from the EU. It’s a need that the UK itself cannot support, with just 164,000 of crop-growing land.

Thanks to Brexit, it is estimated that the prices for imported goods will rise by at least eight percent, with prices for items like olive oil expected to rise by up to 20 percent due to the fact that producers in countries like Italy and Greece have been experiencing poor harvests over the past few months. This price increase is unlikely to change despite any new trade deals brokered between the EU and the UK, thanks to the costly, increased border and customs controls that Brexit will require.

Dutch multinational food and agriculture finance banking company Rabobank has suggested that a solution might be found in the UK adopting a “New Zealand-style trade model,” which would see the elimination of food import tariffs altogether, opening the market to exporters outside of Europe who can offer UK customers similar products at a more favorable price.

One of the import areas where this could occur is olive oil, with UK MP and Prime Minister’s trade envoy to Morocco and Tunisia Andrew Murrison even suggesting that smaller countries with an export capacity (such as Tunisia) could be the key to a more readily available, competitively priced source of olive oil for UK consumers.

In recent years, Tunisia has outstripped several European countries in olive oil production and while the EU currently has waived taxes on up to 35,000 tons of olive oil imports until the end of the year, it is a move that that has not been well received by European farmers, many of whom fear that introducing a cheaper olive oil source into the EU market will undercut local producers.

If the UK does decide to open adopt a more free market approach, it could pose bad news to EU olive oil exporters, who will lose their preferential access to UK buyers via a single market.

Other olive oil producing countries such as Australia might also be able to benefit from Brexit, where farmers have previously complained that the stringent labeling and marketing requirements for exporting olive oil (as well as the subsidization and tariff protection of European goods) make selling to EU markets a significant challenge.

|  An Olive Times release  ||  April 25, 2017   |||

Zespri officially opened its Middle East office in Dubai earlier this week to manage its growing sales and marketing programmes in this region and other developing markets.

Zespri Chief Executive Lain Jager said at the event that Zespri was growing its presence across the Middle East, India and Africa and the new office would support this growth.

“More consumers in the UAE and these regions are enjoying the great taste of premium quality, healthy Zespri Kiwifruit, with sales set to increase by more than 50 percent over the next five years to over 4 million trays of New Zealand fruit and over 2 million trays of global supply (Northern Hemisphere) fruit.

“Zespri’s gold variety SunGold has proved particularly popular with consumers in the Middle East who enjoy its sweet, juicy taste and powerful health properties. Our team in-market is working hard to expand distribution across the region to introduce more consumers to our premium quality fruit and get more of them to buy Zespri Kiwifruit each week,” says Mr Jager.

Zespri’s aim is to grow overall kiwifruit consumption around the world and increase kiwifruit’s share of the global fruitbowl from a fraction of a percent, and building new markets like the Middle East, India and the United States is a key part of this.

A Maori cultural delegation led by kaumatua Kihi Ngatai officially opened and blessed the new office, installing a traditional Maori whakairo (carving) in the office. The carving is named Te Hau Marama which translates to the Wind of Understanding and embraces traditional architecture of the region which takes advantage of desert winds to keep a comfortable breeze for its inhabitants. The carving is made of kauri, traditionally used for pare (lintels) over doorways in wharenui (tribal meeting houses) in New Zealand which provided a boundary between the physical world outside and the spiritual world inside the wharenui.

It is made by James Tapiata who has made several other carvings for Zespri offices in New Zealand and around the world.

|  A Zespri release  |  March 29, 2017   |||

The start of 2017 saw two thirds of New Zealand’s exports to Korea become duty free, up from 46% in 2016.

Trade Minister Todd McClay says more local food businesses looking to expand into Korea will benefit from the latest round of tariff reductions under the New Zealand-Korea Free Trade Agreement, signed December 2015.

New Zealand has experienced strong results particularly in the food and beverage sector where exports to Korea have increased by over 16%. Korea is New Zealand’s 6th largest goods export market, worth NZ$1.5 billion in the year ending September 2016. Meat, dairy, fruit and seafood exports have all enjoyed growth of over 20%.

The value of New Zealand’s Kiwifruit exports to Korea grew nearly 20% in 2016 with further progress expected as the 30% tariff on Kiwifruit has now reduced to 22.5% per cent (half of what exporters were paying before the FTA). While New Zealand is ranked as Korea’s 10th-largest wine importer, we are emerging as a source of high quality wine among early adopters in the market.

The $2.7 million in New Zealand wine sales to Korea in 2015 represented an 18% increase from a year earlier. Following the removal of tariffs at the end of 2015, New Zealand wine exports increased a further 29% in the first half of 2016 compared to a year earlier. Exports of processed deer velvet have also increased by over 80%. From 1 January 2017, the list of products that can be exported duty free will expand to include products such as frozen fish fillets, prepared or preserved frozen potatoes and asparagus.

|  RuralNews  |  January 9, 2017  |

REGISTRATIONS are open for delegates to the inaugural Hort Connections 2017 to be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre from May 15-17.

The event combines the National Horticulture Convention and PMA Fresh Connections, bringng together the largest number of growers, supply chain members, government stakeholders and industry service providers in the Australian horticulture industry.

Hort Connections is a joint initiative between Ausveg and PMA Australia – New Zealand (PMA A-NZ), and will be co-hosted alongside a range of horticulture industry bodies including Australian Organic, Onions Australia and Irrigation Australia.

Ausveg national marketing manager Nathan McIntyre said growers and whole-of-supply-chain members are encouraged to take advantage of the significant early bird savings available for delegates to attend.

“This is a not-to-be-missed opportunity for delegates to come together in one central location and network with their peers from many areas of horticulture, including vegetables, potatoes, onions, fresh fruit, cut flowers, certified organic growers and the irrigation industry,” Mr McIntyre said.

Hort Connections 2017 will build on the success of previous events, incorporating international speakers, an expansive trade show and networking opportunities.

PMA Australia-New Zealand CEO Darren Keating said the speaker sessions will offer a combination of cross-industry presentations as well as streams dedicated to a particular segment of the horticulture industry.

“These sessions will run in conjunction with the trade show, where delegates will be able to visit over 250 exhibitors showcasing the industry’s latest innovations and service offerings in the fresh produce and horticulture industry,” Mr Keating said.

“The event will also include a range of networking events that will ensure that Hort Connections is the most influential space on the Australasian scene for networking, education and business for the entire fresh produce industry.”

Mr McIntyre said in the coming months, the organising committee will continue discussions with more industry groups to create a truly unified event for the Australian horticulture industry.

“We are determined to ensure the Australian horticulture industry will benefit from the largest premier horticultural event in the southern hemisphere. It’s the opportune time to make sure you don’t miss out on attending this event,” he said.

For more information on the program or to register, www.visithortconnections.com.au.

The story Registrations open for Hort Connections first appeared on Good Fruit & Vegetables.

Managing director Andrew Darling discusses the decision to rollout Darling Group – the new overarching brand connecting Global Fresh New Zealand and Australia, Just Avocados and JH Leavy & CoFamily. Fresh. Fun. It’s the tagline of newly formed brand Darling Group, which incorporates long-established businesses Global Fresh New Zealand, Global Fresh Australia, Just Avocados and, most recently, JH Leavy & Co.

Since acquiring the Brisbane-based wholesaler JH Leavy & Co in July 2016, the group of companies decided it needed an overarching brand for its horticultural operations, which range from growing and packing to exporting, sales and marketing, as well as distribution and logistics.

“We engaged a brand specialist in New Zealand, where we went through a process of looking at our core values, what we represent, and what we’re trying to achieve,” explained managing director Andrew Darling. “And through that process we came out with our brand – Darling Group.”

The tagline ‘Family. Fresh. Fun – Australasia’s favourite fresh produce family’ reflects the group’s family involvement in the business, not only with Andrew Darling, his sons Jacob, Nathan and Andrew’s brother Michael, but also in its familial approach to business, including its relationships with staff and customers.

Some of the brands under Darling Group include Mr Avocado, Mr Kiwi and a soon-to-be-released blueberry brand, reflecting some of the fun side of the family-owned vertically integrated business.

As a significant grower of kiwifruit and avocados in its own right, Darling said the group understands the needs of growers, and the requirements from packing to exporting, importing to wholesaling, bringing efficiencies throughout the value chain.

“Because we’re integrated through the value chain, we can operate efficiently while having total transparency of cost, and we control the sale – this is our point of difference and we’re striving for outstanding grower outcomes through our use of high performing, experienced people,” Darling explained.

With state-of-the-art ripening facilities and 4,500m2 of warehousing space, the acquisition of JH Leavy & Co has significantly upped Darling Group’s scale and capability.

“One of the challenges of operating out of New Zealand is that we are constrained not only by the range of commodities that we have available but also the volume of these commodities that we can produce in respect to international marketing opportunities,” Darling said. “So these were some of the real drivers to set up in Australia, and here we now have a broad base of commodities with a real Australian platform and presence.”

The next step for the group will be consolidating until it fully understands the breadth of its new business arm, maximising its wholesale, warehousing, distribution and service provision, including ripening, with a look to start taking the business to retailers in the coming 12 to 24 months.

“The way of the future is with direct supply to retailers, so that’s an obvious place that we’ll begin to seek business with our raft of commodities,” Darling said.

The breadth of commodities that Darling Group now has access to, as well as the scale, not only creates opportunities for the business in Australia, but also in Asia.

“There are opportunities to take healthy, safe and high quality food from Australia to Asia; as the middle class grows in India and China, and people are becoming more connected with internet and mobiles, and increasingly seeking healthy safe food, we’re well positioned in Australia and New Zealand to cater to that demand for high quality fruit.

“I see providing high quality produce to affluent, top end retailers and the middle class as a massive opportunity,” Darling continued. “It’s exciting – produce, generally, is an exciting industry to be in and it’s full of passionate, hard working people, which makes it fun and a great place to be.”

The full interview with Andrew Darling appears in the summer edition of Produce Plus, and the December/January edition of Asiafruit.

|  A presss releas from Asia Fruit  |  Dec 21, 2016  |

New Zealand has released a new apple variety which has been launched today by Fruitcraft, after being licensed for the worldwide rights by Prevar.

The apple variety PremA129, which will be marketed and known as Dazzle, is expected to be one of the biggest apple variety launches since Royal Gala decades ago. All New Zealand apple growers will be able to grow Dazzle, and all fruit exporters will be able to sell it.

Dazzle is a large, red, sweet apple which has taken 20 years to develop by Plant & Food Research (PFR) at their research station in Havelock North.

Fruitcraft manager Steve Potbury says this is an exciting opportunity for New Zealand apple growers and others around the world.

“Dazzle is targeted towards the growing Asian markets. It has all the qualities which appeal to Asian consumers. It is a big, highly coloured and very sweet apple.

“We want to work with all growers to ensure they can grow and market it through their preferred exporter. This is a collaborative approach, which gives growers the chance to be involved from the orchards to the markets,” says Mr Potbury.

Over 100,000 trees are already being grown by growers in New Zealand including Mr Apple, Bostock New Zealand and Freshmax, and nurseries are busy preparing rootstocks to meet grower demand for orders in the New Year.

Fruitcraft is forecasting 1 million cartons of the Dazzle apple will be exported from New Zealand by 2028, if it reaches those numbers it would become one of the country’s most popular apple varieties. Further production around the world is planned, and Fruitcraft will be looking to license growers and marketers in the main apple growing countries in the next year or two.

Plant & Food Research scientist Richard Volz, says Dazzle has been bred conventionally, through cross breeding between “Sweetie” and “Scired” by plant breeders at Havelock North in 1997.

“The parents and grandparents of the PremA129 variety all come from New Zealand. This has taken decades of work and investment by scientists at Plant and Food Research and the New Zealand pipfruit industry to develop a truly New Zealand apple with strong kiwi heritage,” said Mr Volz.

Pipfruit New Zealand Chief Executive Alan Pollard says this is another reflection of the sophistication and strength of an industry where growers, exporters and breeders are all working together to deliver high quality products to customers both in New Zealand and around the world.

|  A Fruitcraft release  |  Dec 19, 2016  |