Growers representing half of the New Zealand apple export crop voted 96.05 per cent in favour of a change at Pipfruit New Zealand to unite with the post-harvest sector at a special general meeting Tuesday.
"This is a very strong vote at a well attended meeting," PNZ chairman Phil Alison told the Journal. "A decision to open up membership to the post-harvest sector is a great step forward and strengthens our position in an increasingly demanding marketplace."
A proposal to unite the industry failed at PNZ’s agm in January, but by tweaking elements slightly and going out to individual growers and post-harvest operators on the issue, PNZ was successful this time. "One benefit of the proposals being rejected first time round was that people started to sit up and take notice of the issues and so now there is a better understanding in the industry," said Alison.
PNZ will remain in the control of growers, but its new board will comprise four grower-directors and three post-harvest directors. Voting rights for both categories will be based on production weight.
The body is responsible for all industry-good func tions including new variety development, production and post-harvest research and market access development, food safety and plant health assurance, regulatory compliance and government lobbying.
Alison recognised that there is a swing back within the industry to some of the better elements afforded by a national board system, but stressed that this week’s vote does not signal a return to single desk marketing. Commenting on the aftermath of deregulation Alison said:"We have probably left boarding school, had our wild party and now realise that there are issues about the marketplace and getting to market that it makes sense to work on together."
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