Roadmap set to double hort exports by 2035
It's critical that the horticulture sector works together as part of a goal to double the sector’s exports by 2035.
Fruit and berry grower Julian Raine has been elected president of Horticulture New Zealand.
Raine is Nelson based and has 30 years' experience in the industry. He takes over from Andrew Fenton who has been president since HortNZ's inception in 2005.
Raine has extensive experience both in growing and wide-ranging roles in industry organisations.
"Julian has been a director of the New Zealand Boysenberry Council and Nelson Seasonal Employers Inc, is chair of the New Zealand Nuffield Farming Scholarship Trust and a trustee of the Massey Lincoln Agricultural Industry Trust," says Fenton.
"He is very well respected in the industry and the ideal person to help steer the organisation through the next stage of its journey towards the goal of becoming a $10 billion industry by 2020."
Raine has been a grower since the early 1980s. He is a partner in Wai-West Horticulture, which grows apples, boysenberries and kiwifruit on 140ha, and in Hinetai Hops, which grows blackcurrants and hops on 70ha. He is also chairman of Berryfruit Export NZ Ltd.
He was elected to the HortNZ board in 2011.
Acclaimed fruit grower Dean Astill never imagined he would have achieved so much in the years since being named the first Young Horticulturist of the Year, 20 years ago.
The Ashburton-based Carrfields Group continues to show commitment to future growth and in the agricultural sector with its latest investment, the recently acquired 'Spring Farm' adjacent to State Highway 1, Winslow, just south of Ashburton.
New Zealand First leader and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has blasted Fonterra farmers shareholders for approving the sale of iconic brands to a French company.
A major feature of the Ashburton A&P Show, to be held on October 31 and November 1, will be the annual trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial test match, with the best heading dogs from both sides of the Tasman going head-to-head in two teams of four.
Fewer bobby calves are heading to the works this season, as more dairy farmers recognise the value of rearing calves for beef.
The key to a dairy system that generates high profit with a low emissions intensity is using low footprint feed, says Fonterra program manager on-farm excellence, Louise Cook.

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