WELCOME TO THE FRESH VEGETABLES NEW ZEALAND WEBSITE

Vegetables New Zealand Incorporated represents the interests of growers of all fresh vegetable crops (other than potatoes, onions, tomatoes, asparagus, and buttercup squash).

It represents approximately 760 growers who produce over 50 crops with a farm gate value of over $400 million per annum. It is the largest of the vegetable product 

Due to COVID-19 the 2020 Horticulture Conference has been postponed to 2021.

For up to date information on COVID-19 please go to the Horticulture NZ website.

The 2020 VNZI AGM and Board Election results announcement has been confirmed for Friday 25 September, at the Pukekohe Indian Association Centre, 57 Ward Street, at 3:45pm. 

Click here for the 2020 VNZI Annual Report and AGM Agenda.

Proxy forms will be accepted up until 5:00pm on Wednesday 23rd September.

Click here to download a Proxy form.  Return details are on the form.

If you require a hardcopy of either the Annual Report or Proxy Form please email Lynda.banks@hortnz.co.nz

To register your AGM attendance click here 

Some important dates for the VNZI Board Election process:             

 The expected schedule for the afternoon of Friday 25 September is: 

Biosecurity (Readiness and Response-Fresh Vegetables Levy) Order 2020

Vegetables NZ Inc wish to advise that Parliament has approved the new Biosecurity (Readiness and Response-Fresh Vegetables Levy) Order 200 which was signed and gazetted on 6 July 2020.  It will come into effect on 10 August 2020.  Click here for the full Levy Order.

Any queries please contact Antony Heywood, General Manager VNZI on 021 990 038 or email Antony.heywood@hortnz.co.nz

The On Farm Biosecurity Manuals are now complete - click here -> Outdoors crop manual - Covered crops manual

All growing organisations will receive a printed copy of the manual that is relevant to their growing operation and this will arrive before the end of the month.

You are welcome to provide feedback on this resource direct to Brittany McCloy at Brittany.McCloy@onionsnz.com or ph 027 844 2920 

2020 HortNZ Leadership Programme (21 May 2020)

After the unprecedented start to 2020, we  believe that now, more than ever,  emerging leaders will need  support to  develop their leadership  skills and confidence. Therefore, HortNZ is running  the 2020 programme while keeping flexible as to it is delivered. It  may be on-line or face-face, or a mix, depending  on where NZ is at the end of August through  to November (when we run the course). There are 30 positions available and 20 scholarships that  cover most expenses for 20 of those positions. 

Application forms can be downloaded from  http://www.hortnz.co.nz/our-work/people/hortnz-leadership-programme.

For enquiries please contact Sue Pickering 021 938 825 or email sue.p@developme.nz. Due to the timing  of the Covid-19 Alert Levels and much of horticulture being an essential service (as well as  harvesting), application deadline has been extended to 20 June.

New crop protection registration for Parsnip (24 April 2020)

Vegetables NZ is pleased to announce a new label claim has been registered for a nematicide in parsnips. This also has a Maximum Residue Level (MRL) set. Vegetables NZ engaged Market Access Solutionz to lead and coordinate this project on behalf of parsnip growers.

Velum Prime (active fluopyram) has been registered for nematode control in parsnips (mirroring the existing claim for carrots and aligning the MRLs). While parsnip growers in general use very few nematicides, there are areas, however, where nematode pressure is high, and growers need to control these pests in order to ensure an economic return. Industry’s preference is to use low risk, targeted products, and this registration provides them with such a tool.

Velum Prime has a reduced risk profile and this allows growers to have access to a new mode of action, and provides alternatives to products being removed from the market.

“The only other efficacious nematicide registered for use on parsnip (Nemacur / fenamiphos) is due for phase out by July 2023, so there was an urgent need for parsnip growers to have access to an alternative product” says Antony Heywood – manager of Vegetables NZ. Nematode damage causes parsnips to fork and without an efficacious nematicide there is no marketable crop. Parsnip growers regard nematode control as the most important production factor in ensuring an economic return from their crop.

The majority of crops produced in NZ are considered minor by crop protection companies and due to low levels of product sales, they do not justify the cost of specific registration trials. There is a real need to assist growers to ensure they have sustainable products to allow continued growth and production of a range of crops. 

“It’s great that this collaborative approach between the grower group and Bayer NZ has enabled this label extension to be registered and an MRL set. Growers of parsnips now have another sustainable control option that can be used on label, which is a positive outcome for both growers and registrant” says Antony.

Vegetables NZ wishes to acknowledge and thank Bayer NZ and Fruitfed Supplies for their funding support with the addition of the parsnip claim to the Velum Prime label. Vegetables NZ strongly encourages growers to support the registrant of this product as they have contributed to co-funding the registration.

Any questions please phone or email Rebecca Fisher, Ph 021 059 7364 - Crop Protection Manager, Market Access Solutionz (MAS)

Click here for a copy of the final approved label report.

The 2019 VNZI AGM and Horticulture Conference was a great success and for those of you who were able to attend we hope you found the experience both rewarding and valuable.

All Motions tabled were passed and a highlight of the AGM was presenting Dr Stuart Davis with a Life Membership Award.  Stuart has made an outstanding contribution to the vegetable industry and VNZI Board and it was only befitting to acknowledge Stuart's contribution in this way.  Later in the Conference Stuart was also award a Horticulture Industry Services Award.  Congratulations Stuart!

Results from the 2019 VNZI Board Election process saw Kiran Hari, Allen Lim, Mike Parker and Leanne Roberts re-elected as VNZI Board Directors.  Congratulations!

At the first VNZI Board meeting following the AGM held on Thursday 1 August at 8:45am saw Andre de Bruin nominated and elected as Chair of VNZI and Mike Parker nominated and elected as Vice Chair of VNZI.  Congratulations!

Announcement - Fresh Vegetable Commodity Levy Vote Successful

VNZI are pleased to announce that the proposed new fresh vegetable commodity levy has been supported.  86.55% by number and 89.05% by value of those that voted in the recent referendum supported the proposal.

The Horticulture New Zealand and other vegetable product group referendums were also successful.

Many thanks if you were one of the 86.55% of fresh vegetable growers that cast your vote.

Next we will make an application to the Ministry for Primary Industries, who will take our request to the Minister for approval. The new levy order is expected to be in place around April 2019.

Under the new levy order, the fresh vegetable levy rate will remain the same at 0.30% for domestic sales and 0.20% for export sales.

Click here for the Horticulture New Zealand Media Release - 21 August 2018 

Download a brochure on the Vegetables NZ Incorporated Commodity Levy Proposal.