Time to flip the levy-payer industry-good body model
OPINION: Industry good organisations have long played a key role in supporting New Zealand’s primary industries.
A recently released report showing Kiwis are buying more organic product from their local supermarket is good news.
The news is a welcome message for organic fruit and vegetable growers, says Horticulture New Zealand.
The Organics Aotearoa Organic Market Report 2016 shows continuing growth in markets for organic fresh fruit and vegetables, particularly in supermarkets, up 127% in four years.
"What is good about that figure for horticulture is it shows shoppers are thinking more about what they put in their shopping trollies," says HortNZ chief executive Mike Chapman.
"That's a good trend for all the producers serving the New Zealand domestic market.
"Buying organic goes hand-in-hand with buying healthy, and buying local. All of which we are here to encourage."
Horticulture products have always been key to growth in the New Zealand organics sector, which ranges across all kinds of food, beverages and other grocery and healthcare products.
Fresh fruit and vegetables account for more than 45% of total organic exports.
"What we need to see now is support from government to help with regulating labelling of these products, both as organic, and with their country of origin," Chapman says.
"Regardless of the strength in the domestic organics market, it is still totally unacceptable for Kiwi shoppers to have to try and figure out what 'organic' actually means."
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
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