The HTA has given a warm welcome to the new levy lineup, announced by Defra last week.
The association’s director general, David Gwyther, said that the strong representation given to ornamentals should mean that sector of the industry has its voice heard more than it has done in the past.
Gwyther, who congratulated interim chairman Andrew Colquhoun on the job he has done so far, told Commercial Grower that it was important that the new board gets to grips with a plan for the HDC very quickly, adding that rumours of relocations were premature with decisions needing to be taken carefully.
Defra is expected to announce the name of the new chairman shortly, soon after which the first meeting of the new board will take place.
As far as the focus of the new board’s attention is concerned, Gwyther said: “We’d like a ruthless focus on products that help growers affect their productivity, not funds being dissipated on things like promotions, market information, exports and things like that.”
One of the board members, pea grower and NFU Board for Horticulture chairman Richard Hirst, said that a crucial focus for the new lineup would be to ‘carry on the good work of the HDC and maintain the R&D in the horticulture sector.’
Hirst added that it is also essential that levy payers get value for money, a view echoed by Gwyther who warned against any rise in the levies.
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