Nashi NZ has asked the country's apple and pear association Pipfruit NZ to become its administrator, effective from 1 April 2009.
Several members of the group, which represents approximately 35 Nashi pear growers and has its own independent levy system, are also apple or pear growers and therefore already members of Pipfruit NZ.
According to Peter Beaven, chief executive of Pipfruit NZ, the country's Nashi pear industry operates its export sector under the Horticulture Export Authority (HEA), with export and local market volumes more evenly split than in other topfruit sectors.
'It has been agreed that the Nashi growers will continue to operate their own levy and will hold their AGM in conjunction with the Pipfruit NZ conference on 29 July in Napier,' said Mr Beaven.
