Strawberries leave MAF red-faced

HortNZ president Andrew Fenton says the situation is serious and urges people to destroy Buzzy brand strawberry kits if they have purchased them from The Warehouse.

“People might think that these are just little plants in their backyard but they could carry viruses that could damage our industry,” Fenton says.

There is potential for any diseases carried on these seeds to be transmitted to New Zealand strawberry plants, he adds.

“Unless we get 100% of these kits destroyed, there is still a risk left out there, which could eventually cost growers in lost production and higher crop protection costs.

“We are very concerned that this mistake has happened.  MAF’s rules are very clear that these seeds should not have entered the country.  

“Vigilance at the border is absolutely critical. We need to make sure we have the resources at the border to do the job properly.”

About 7000 packs were imported from China and 1,362 of them remain unaccounted for. 

MAF response manager Glen Neal says the seeds in the kits were imported and mistakenly released for sale when they should have been quarantined and tested for a range of plant viruses.

“If these seeds are planted and get into the wider environment, they have the potential to introduce viral diseases to several horticultural crops including strawberries,” he says.

“While we think the risk of the seeds in the kits being infected and then viruses subsequently being transmitted from adult plants to commercial horticultural operations are very low, we are keen to get back or account for as many kits as possible to further minimise any risk. 

“The seeds and any resulting plants or fruit do not pose any human health risk. The concern is about plant health,” Neal says.

MAF is still investigating the circumstances behind the importatio.