Honey sector strategy aiming for sweet spot
While confident that the apiculture sector can meet its target of doubling honey exports by 2030, chair of ApicultureNZ, Nathan Guy, says it will be challenging.
Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has welcomed the New Zealand Horticulture Export Authority Amendment Bill passing its third reading in Parliament on Tuesday.
“Horticulture is now New Zealand’s fourth largest export industry and this bill provides an improved framework for producers and exporters to collaborate in marketing their products,” says Guy.
“The changes provide more clarity around the entry and exit requirements, and more efficient methods for the authority to collect fees and levies from producers and exporters.
“Growers and exporters of horticultural products like avocados, summerfruit and buttercup squash will be able to better target their marketing strategies to different markets.
“It’s about choice and empowering industries to optimise their returns from different markets.
“The global market has changed a lot since 1987 and these changes have been made following consultation with the New Zealand Horticulture Export Authority and the nine product groups which use this export framework.
“Horticulture is a star performer of the New Zealand economy with export revenue just under $5 billion, and a goal of becoming a $10 billion industry by 2020.
“It’s very fitting for this bill to be passed just a week after Horticulture New Zealand celebrated 100 years of representing growers, starting as the New Zealand Fruitgrowers Federation in 1916.
“I want to thank the members of the Primary Production Select Committee for their work on this bill, and the good suggestions made by industry as it has made its way through Parliament.”
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
OPINION: The new government has clearly signalled big cuts across the public service.
OPINION: Your canine crusader is not surprised by the recent news that New Zealand plant-based ‘fake meat’ business is in…