Wednesday, 15 January 2020 11:05

Ag Minister praises Horticultural Export Authority

Written by  Peter Burke
HEA chief executive Simon Hegarty. HEA chief executive Simon Hegarty.

“Spectacular” – that’s how Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor describes the work of the Horticultural Export Authority.

The organisation – headed by Simon Hegarty – promotes the effective export marketing of horticultural products. It does this by providing an exporting structure and support network for the NZ horticultural export industry. 

The Horticultural Export Authority (HEA) also liaises with sector stakeholder groups on matters relating to market access, trade barriers and their removal. It also plays a role in lobbying government on such matters on behalf of the industry.

O’Connor says the HEA model is a spectacular success and has been instrumental in increasing horticultural exports – such as avocados – that complement other major exports like apples and kiwifruit.

“The HEA model encourages growers and exporters to agree and to collaborate, to maximise the coordination, distribution and marketing of their products,” O’Connor told Rural News.

“The horticultural growers are directly connected to consumers and their organisational structures are appropriate and so we applaud them all.” 

Ag Minister Damien O’Connor says the HEA model encourages greater collaboration between growers and exporters.

He says innovation in the hort sector is critical for its long term success. O’Connor points to the plant breeding programmes in the apple and pear sector and the recent announcement of the commercialisation of the red kiwifruit as examples of successful innovation.

“The launch of Zespri Red is an opportunity for the kiwifruit industry to keep ahead of the world,” he says.

More like this

Hort exporters eye Indian market

Exporters need to understand that India should not be seen as just one country to export to, rather a country of many unique states and regions.

Featured

Low interest sustainability lending from Halter, banks

Dairy and beef farmers could be eligible for lower interest lending options for financing Halter on their farms, with ANZ, ASB and BNZ now offering a pathway to sustainability loans for New Zealand’s largest virtual fencing provider.

National

Sweet or sour deal?

Not all stakeholders involved in the proposed merger of honey industry groups - ApiNZ and Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association…

Machinery & Products

Loosening soil without fuss

Distributed in New Zealand by Carrfields, Grange Farm Machinery is based in the Holderness region of East Yorkshire – an…

JCB unveils new models

The first of the UK’s agricultural trade shows was recently held at the NEC Centre in Birmingham.

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Times have changed

OPINION: Back in the 1960s and '70s, and even into the '80s, successive National government Agriculture Ministers and Trade Ministers…

Hallelujah moment

OPINION: The new Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche has just had the hallelujah moment of the 21st century in…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter