Pipfruit growers, who effectively lost control of their industry's exports in the corporatisation of Enza, now want to create an industry body that includes non-growers.
The annual meeting of Pipfruit Growers NZ on January 29 will be asked to change its rules to allow a "whole-of-industry" approach to unite growers, exporters,
post-harvest operators and industry suppliers.
The new structure would form a single organisation responsible for industry functions, including new variety development, production and post-harvest research, market access development, phytosanitary and food safety assurance, and regulatory compliance, and the policy environment in which the industry operates.
The apple and pear growers last had such an organisation when the Apple and Pear Marketing Board was deregulated and grower assets were held by Enza.
However, so many orchardists sold their shares at bargain prices to two corporate raiders that control of the company passed to Guinness Peat Group.
In January, the pipfruit growers will argue that a coherent industry group is needed to "consolidate views so that the industry makes informed decisions in a co-ordinated manner", by linking growers with post-harvest operations and exporters right through to the marketplace.
This time the growers will no longer own much of the export structure through their control of the industry's marketing.
All the meetings will be at Mission Estate, at Taradale.
- NZPA
