Fruitgrowers Urged To Get Their Votes In

New Zealand Fruitgrowers Federation
PO Box 2175
Wellington
31 October 2004

MEDIA RELEASE

Fruitgrowers urged to get their votes in by end of week

Fruitgrowers are being urged to get their votes in for the current referendum on the establishment of Horticulture New Zealand, an organisation that industry leaders say will be more effective and better able to deliver results on key industry-wide issues. Voting closes on Friday this week.

“The new entity has already been approved by vegetable and berry-fruit growers, and the rest of the industry is hopeful that fruitgrowers will also agree to the establishment of Horticulture New Zealand,” Fruitgrowers Federation chief executive, Peter Silcock said.

“There has been increasing co-operation between the three horticultural federations over recent years (fruit, vegetable and berry-fruit), and it clear that a single organisation will not only provide efficiencies in services to growers, but also a more powerful and authoritative voice in Wellington.

“The response to the devastating floods earlier this year, the development of a seasonal labour strategy and our joint approach in making submissions on regional and district plans are cases in point,” Peter Silcock said.

“While we have been working together with vegetable growers over the past 5 years the formation of Horticulture NZ is a big step and we need strong endorsement from our members before we take it. If Horticulture New Zealand is successful it will ultimately replace NZ Fruitgrowers Federation that has served growers for the past 88 years”

“There are so many issues that are generic across the different product sectors; such as resource management, trade issues, border security, dealing with seasonal labour shortages and the ever-present battle with compliance costs.”

“The key issues facing horticulture will remain regardless of the industry structures we put in place. Horticulture NZ will give us an extra edge and the best possible vehicle to achieve results for the benefit of all growers.”

Voting closes on Friday 5 November and results are expected to be released by an independent auditor the following week.

If approved, activities to establish the new organisation will start immediately.

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