New Zealand vegetable exports are set to benefit from an NZ$37 million (£14.5m) contract between the Foundation for Research Science & Technology (FRST), Crop & Food Research, and the vegetable sector through Horticulture New Zealand.

Called Future Vegetables, it provides the research capability behind the New Zealand horticulture industry’s vision for export business of $2 billion a year by 2019. It will focus on potatoes, onions, vining peas, tomatoes and capsicum. The programme also aims to improve the way growers can control pests and diseases and to extend the shelf life of vegetables. “For example, within the life of the eight-year project, UK consumers can expect to see on-shelf new onion varieties developed to satisfy consumer demand for new and convenient product,” Dr Sonia Whiteman, vegetable research and innovation manager for Horticulture NZ’s vegetable product groups told freshinfo.