Members
Welcome to the Tomatoes New Zealand website
The aim of the TomatoesNZ site is to provide a range of information for fresh tomato growers and a timely resource on industry events and developments for the general public. This website is funded from the commodity levy paid by New Zealand’s commercial fresh tomato growers. As a result some sections of this website are password protected and only available to active grower members who are paying the Fresh Tomato commodity levy. In order to view these pages you need to login (see side bar to the right).
The Fresh Tomato Product Group of Horticulture New Zealand represents the interests of all commercial fresh tomato growers throughout New Zealand. (See the product group committee details under Contacts.)
There are about 300 growers who produce approximately 40,000 tonnes of standard and specialty fresh tomatoes that have a farm gate value of $83million per annum. This equates to a retail value of about $115million that is split $108million to the domestic market and $7million to export. The principle export market is Australia and product is also exported to many Pacific island and Pacific Rim countries.
In the last two Household Economic Surveys (2007 & 2004) New Zealand grown fresh tomatoes have ranked number one as the favourite vegetable.
News
Tomato/Potato Psyllid (TPP) monitoring report - 19 March 2010
19/03/2010
Regular monitoring for the tomato / potato psyllid is essential for effective control. more....
Psyllid Monitoring Services
09/12/2009
Through the Sustainable Psyllid Management MAF SFF project Potatoes New Zealand are supporting national monitoring of psyllid numbers in key regions. It has come to our attention that growers wish to have monitoring done on their own properties and / or identification of suspected infested crops. more....
Fresh Tomato Product Group update for December
08/12/2009
Imports In September imports were 466,191kgs with a CIF value of $1.19 million, compared to September 2008 with 758,350kgs and a CIF value of $2.16 million. more....
Fresh Tomato Product Group update for November
23/11/2009
Market Access to Australia The final conditions for the new programme for tomato and capsicum exports to Australia from New Zealand were announced and were effective on 22 October. more....
Fresh Tomato Product Group update for October
30/10/2009
Market Access to Australia Biosecurity Australia released its official and final Pest Risk Assessment for the Tomato/Potato Psyllid and Candidatus Liberibacter on 16 September. more....
Agrecovery Rural Recyling Programme
30/09/2009
The Agrecovery Rural Recyling programme provides NZ's primary sector with responsible and sustainable systems for the recovery of 'on-farm' plastics and the disposal of unwanted chemicals. more....
Wim Zwart elected new Chair.
30/09/2009
The Product Group's Vice Chair and long serving committee member Wim Zwart from Gisborne has taken over the reins from Tony. Wim was elected unopposed at Conference. Wim has been on the committee since 1990, with a break from 1994-1997, and has been Vice Chair since 2002. His experience and style will make the transition seamless and see the Product Group in very good hands for the foreseeable future. more....
Fresh Tomato Product Group report for September 2009
17/09/2009
Tony Ivicevich retires as Chairman of the Product Group. Tony officially retired as Chairman at the AGM on 21 July after 11 years service. All Fresh Tomato Growers should appreciate Tony's time at the helm of the Product Group. He dedicated a huge amount of effort and energy and his knowledge, expertise and industry intelligence served the Industry extremely well over the last 11 years. more....
Greenhouse whitefly factsheets
06/08/2009
The Fresh Tomato Product Group of Horticulture New Zealand has been involved since early 2008 in a MAF Sustainable Farming Fund Project for the development of a series of factsheets to "document new procedures for Whitefly Control (in New Zealand Greenhouses under Integrated Crop Management practices)". more....
Fresh Tomato Product Group update for July 2009
06/07/2009
Annual Conference This year’s Fresh Tomato Annual Conference is being held Tuesday 21 July 2009 10.30am – 5.00pm in the Christchurch Convention Centre. As usual it is followed on Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 June by the Horticulture NZ Annual Conference. more....
Fresh Tomato Product Group update for June 2009
06/07/2009
Product Group committee meets in late June The Fresh Tomato Product Group Committee met on 30 June. What follows is a summary of the individual member’s updates on the industry and the crops. Dull, cold and wet These three words about sum up the growing conditions experienced by most greenhouse tomato growers during autumn and early winter. more....
Updated Psyllid factsheet
03/04/2009
An updated Psyllid factsheet is now available. more....
Exports to Australia – update 22 January 2009
22/01/2009
Nothing too much of a newsworthy nature has occurred since the key announcement before Christmas by Biosecurity Australia that it was prepared to put in place special interim emergency measures to allow NZ tomatoes and capsicums back across its border. more....
Horticulture NZ Leadership Programme 2009
20/03/2009
Effective leadership is and will be key to the continuing prosperity of the horticulture industry. The New Zealand and global business community is becoming increasingly complex. For any industry to achieve profitability and vibrancy it must also conduct its business in a strategic, highly commercial and professional manner. External issues and continuous change provide both challenges and opportunities to the fruit and vegetable sector. A fundamental aspect of successfully addressing these challenges and capturing the opportunities lies within a strong pool of high performing industry leaders more....
Management of root diseases in greenhouse tomatoes – 21 January 2009
22/01/2009
In early January we mailed a new information brochure: “Management of root diseases in greenhouse tomatoes – Overseas information on biopesticides and chemical controls” to all known Fresh Tomato Growers. more....
Horticulture NZ 2009 scholarships
27/01/2009
Every year Horticulture NZ offers scholarships that are open to New Zealand students and trainees who have a special interest in the fruit or vegetable industry and are undergoing significant industry training or education. more....
Endosulfan use banned from 16 January 2009
13/01/2009
From 16 January 2009 it is no longer legal to use chemical formulations containing Endosulfan on vegetable crops. Endosulfan is the active ingredient in products such as Thiodan 35 EC, Thionex and Flavyan 350 EC that have been used as an insecticide on some vegetable crops, including tomatoes and potatoes. more....
New Zealand tomatoes & capsicums back on the menu again in Australia
09/12/2008
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) have received advice from Biosecurity Australia that they have revised their emergency measures which will allow the importation of tomato and capsicum fruit from New Zealand. more....
Tomato and Capsicum to Australia Compliance Programme Version 3
15/01/2009
The compliance programme is now on its third version and has been placed on the MAFBNZ website. more....