In the latest salvo in New Zealand’s kiwifruit marketing regulation debate, the group Kiwifruit Exporters to Australia (KETA) has lodged a complaint with the country’s Horticultural Export Authority.
The complaint concerns Zespri’s decision to substitute class one fruit on the Australian market for the traditional class two this year to deal with an oversupply of premium kiwifruit, reported The Independent.
The complaint came as New Zealand's agriculture minister David Carter expressed the government's support for the single desk model, echoed by peak industry body Horticulture New Zealand.
Australia is the only export market not covered by Zespri’s single-desk system, and is managed as a destination for class two kiwifruit by KETA.
KETA accused Zespri of using its “monopolistic and privileged position in New Zealand to abuse the Australian business”. It said the Australian market was unwilling to raise prices for class one fruit, threatening commercial returns.
The complaint follows a war of words between Zespri and rival fruit company Turners & Growers, which has been calling for a deregulation of the kiwifruit industry.
That looks unlikely to happen, following Mr Carter's statement. Horticulture New Zealand's president Andrew Fenton says that should be the end of the matter.
“The Minister’s sensible and firm comments put to rest a good deal of speculation, which serves no useful purpose in these economically fragile times,” Mr Fenton commented.
“HortNZ totally supports the Zespri single desk structure.”
No comments yet