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Horticulture NZ chairman Julian Raine.
Horticulture NZ chairman Julian Raine believes horticulture can, as predicted, overtake dairying as NZ’s main export industry.
Raine told Rural News, at the recent HortNZ conference, he believes dairy is reaching its peak in this country and the tolerance for dairy and sustainability of the sector is being called into question.
Raine says horticulture will get past dairy as an industry because it is seen as sustainable, moving with the times and as delivering innovative, safe and reliable food to many overseas customers.
“Horticulture’s day has come; there are now a lot of success stories in horticulture. We’ve been quietly working our way up while the limelight has been on dairy.
“Horticulture is getting win after win after win. We have been concentrating on new markets, in particular in Asia – not just China, but right across Asia from Japan around through to India.”
Raine says horticulture has ridden well on the back of free trade agreements and reduced tariffs that make a huge difference to the industry. A focus on telling the horticulture story is paying off.
“Our story resonates in the market with consumers: we are seen as safe and producing the high quality food consumers are looking for.” – Peter Burke
Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) has released its 2026 election manifesto, outlining priorities to support the sector’s growth, resilience, and contribution to New Zealand’s food security and export revenue.
The 2026 New Zealand Horticulture Conference is set to see more than 900 growers, employers, service providers and industry stakeholders gather in Wellington in July.
Trainees in the horticulture industry studying towards a certificate or diploma can now apply for Horticulture New Zealand's (HortNZ) 2026 Industry Training Scholarships programme.
Fruit growers and exporters are worried following the discovery of a male Queensland fruit fly in Auckland this week.
Primary sector leaders have welcomed the announcement of a Free Trade Agreement between India and New Zealand.
The closure of the McCain processing plant and the recent announcement of 300 job losses at Wattie’s underscore the mounting pressure facing New Zealand’s manufacturing sector, Buy NZ Made says.
Specialist agriculture lender Oxbury has entered the New Zealand market, offering livestock finance to farmers.
New research suggests Aotearoa New Zealand farmers are broadly matching phosphorus fertiliser use to the needs of their soils, helping maintain relatively stable nutrient levels across the country’s agricultural land.
Helensville farmers, Donald and Kirsten Watson of Moreland Pastoral, have been named the Auckland Regional Supreme Winners at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
Marc and Megan Lalich were named 2026 Share Farmers of the Year at last night's Canterbury/North Otago Dairy Industry Awards.
William John Poole, a third year Agribusiness student at Massey University, has been awarded the Dr Warren Parker and Pāmu Scholarship.
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