The clash between New Zealand horticulture giants Zespri and Turners & Growers (T&G) is being writ large this week as T&G unveils a series of billboards highlighting their continued stance against the regulation of kiwifruit exports from the country.
T&G yesterday finished the installation of the first billboard just outside the entrance to the airport in New Zealand’s capital Wellington, the company told Fruitnet.com.
The billboard reads “It’s kicking the country right where it hurts: the Kiwifruit Export Regulations 1999 are strangling innovation and costing the country export earnings”.
A second billboard in Wellington will be completed today.
The new billboards are Turners & Growers latest salvo against New Zealand’s single-desk kiwifruit marketer Zespri and the regulations upon which it was founded.
The long-running clash iscurrently waiting its day in court, and has spurred a small number of growers toset up a grower bodyin opposition to New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc, which has voiced its support of the Zespri system.
Despite the criticism from Turners & Growers, Zespri has brought steadily increasing returns to growersover the last few seasons despite the impact of the global financial crisis on export markets.
The marketer is also due to make a commercial decision onfour new varietiesthis month, which are widely expected to increase the value of the New Zealand kiwifruit industry in coming years.
