It is levy vote time, with Vegetables NZ, Onion NZ, Tomatoes NZ and Process Vegetables NZ all voting on whether to continue with the Fresh Vegetables Commodity Levy.
Levy payers are required to vote at least twice – for the HortNZ levy vote also underway as well as for the vegetable product group or groups covering the vegetables they grow.
The proposal does not include changes to the levy rate but to use funds for industry representation, research, grower interaction, energy audits and plans to reduce waste and emissions and support marketing.
Voting opened at midnight May 14.
A renewed levy would apply for six years, from the expiry of the current levy order in March 2025.
The organisation is proposing that the levy rate remains at the maximum levy rate of 15 cents per $100 of sales.
HortNZ president Barry O’Neil encouraged growers to cast their vote and have their say on the organisation continuing its work on behalf of New Zealand’s 4200-plus commercial fruit and vegetable growers.
