NZ avocado growers gain FernMark export licence
New Zealand avocado growers have received a major boost by securing a collective FernMark Licence for their exports.
Fieldays has added another feather to its cap - the coveted New Zealand Story’s FernMark licence programme.
Announced today at the Fieldays primary leaders’ luncheon, the government-backed accreditation was designed to help New Zealand businesses stand out in global markets by identifying that they contribute to the essence of the New Zealand story.
Since its inception in 1968, Fieldays has played a leading role in the development of agriculture and New Zealand's economy. A proud heritage and legacy have been built by the many people who have supported and volunteered with the organisation since it began.
New Zealand National Fieldays Society chief executive Peter Nation speaks of what securing this accreditation means for Fieldays.
"For many years, the Fieldays event has grown in stature across the world. Famous for staging world-class innovation and technology, exposing homegrown New Zealand companies to world markets, and staging important networking and international relationships, Fieldays has a reputation for quality, scale, and tradition. Annually, it is the event to renew relationships and partnerships and create new opportunities”.
“Together with New Zealand Story, we can further accelerate our brand, reputation and valued customers onto the world stage, showing that although we’re a small country, we have the innovations and ideas to showcase on the world stage,” says Nation.
New Zealand Story chief executive David Downs says its fantastic to see Fieldays becoming the first event of its kind to receive a FernMark Licence.
“Fieldays isn’t just a national institution – it also reaches diverse international audiences – so aligning with the FernMark is a testament to its role in showcasing our innovation in the sector. Fieldays underscores the ingenuity, authenticity, and quality that our country is renowned for – the FernMark was the perfect fit,” says Downs.
Fieldays says it attracts over 100,000 visitors each year.
Fieldays attracts exhibitors who have also proved worthy of the FernMark licence, such as Zespri, Greenlea Meats, Betacraft, Stallion Ltd, Anchor, AgriSea NZ Seaweed Limited, and more.
"This accreditation now puts the Fieldays brand alongside our valued and iconic export customers. We are proud of this association, which represents the best New Zealand food and fibre suppliers globally", says Nation.
DairyNZ Chair Tracy Brown has seen a lot of change since she first started out in the dairy sector, with around one-third of dairy farmers now women.
Castle Ridge Station has been named the Regional Supreme Winner at the Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
The South Island Dairy Event has announced Jessica Findlay as the recipient of the BrightSIDE Scholarship Programme, recognising her commitment to furthering her education and future career in the New Zealand dairy industry.
New Zealand and Chile have signed a new arrangement designed to boost agricultural cooperation and drive sector success.
New DairyNZ research will help farmers mitigate the impacts of heat stress on herds in high-risk regions of the country.
Budou are being picked now in Bridge Pā, the most intense and exciting time of the year for the Greencollar team – and the harvest of the finest eating grapes is weeks earlier than expected.

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