Kiwifruit growers in New Zealand have welcomed a renewed commitment from the country's government that there no changes will be made to the industry's export marketing arrangements for the fruit.
Speaking to reporters, trade minister Tim Groser backed the existing system, which gives marketer Zespri a monopoly on all kiwifruit exports from New Zealand except in Australia and in specific cases where a collaborative marketing agreement has been reached.
Peter Ombler, president of growers association New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated, said that more than 90 per cent of the country's kiwifruit growers supported the current export arrangements, which he said had driven annual growth in the industry of 9.88 per cent over the past decade – more than any other primary industry.
'As the trade minister has recognised, New Zealand grows only about a third of the world’s volume of kiwifruit, yet we account for more than two-thirds of global value – and that success is a direct result of the current export arrangements,' Ombler said.
'It is very good news that Mr Groser has reconfirmed the prime minister and agriculture ministers' unequivocal assurances that as long as growers support the export arrangements, then the Government will too,' he added.
Referring to attempts being made by export company Turners & Growers to have Zespri's single-desk status removed, he said:
'Turners & Growers have made it abundantly clear, that by continuing to attack the NZ kiwifruit industry off-shore, they're not interested in creating wealth opportunities for NZ growers or NZ Inc.'
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