Country of Origin: Sustainability, Traceability

Country of Origin Labels for Sustainability, Traceability & Integrity

Press Release
For Immediate Release, Thursday 6 December 2007

Organics Aotearoa New Zealand - the organic sector body - has added its support to Green MP Sue Kedgley's petition to require country of origin labeling for fruit, vegetables and single component foods.

"The tens of thousands of signatures on this petition show that New Zealanders are joining the worldwide movement towards fresh, healthy and increasingly organic food", said OANZ Chief Executive Officer, Dr Jon Tanner.

"Last week's Primary Industries 20/20 Summit highlighted how New Zealand producers can no longer ignore growing global consumer demand for more sustainable production.

"The values of sustainability, traceability and integrity sit at the heart of organic systems. Country of origin labeling serves these values, and would allow Kiwis to make a more informed choice about what we eat.

"Although an average supermarket shopper spends less than 4 seconds deciding what to buy, they increasingly rely on product labels to measure what is in our food, how it's grown, and where it comes from.

"New Zealand's '100% Pure' international image presents an opportunity for our entire primary sector, including organics. Organic products are routinely labeled with their country of origin - and rather than being a subject of fear, country of origin labeling lets us highlight the sustainability, traceability and integrity of New Zealand food", Dr Tanner said.

ENDS

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