Your fresh tomato levies have enabled the following activities, which align with the four TomatoesNZ strategy planks:

Enhance Sustainability

• Crop protection – sustainable pest management is critical to the industry, and TomatoesNZ have invested in developing biocontrol agents and conventional control options. One example is the import of Tomato and Potato Psyllid bio-control agent Tamarixia in 2017, with ongoing trials and development of this BCA underway. Registration of new crop protection products is also supported by TomatoesNZ. 
• Valuing the covered crops industry – an economic analysis by NZIER to define the sector’s value to NZ. 
• Advocacy on Emissions Trading Scheme – ensuring Government is aware of the impacts by making submissions and providing data.

 Manage Risk

• In 2014 TomatoesNZ signed the GIA (Government Industry Agreement) for Biosecurity Readiness and Response and two Operational Agreements (Fruitfly and Brown Marmorated Stink Bug) were signed during 2016-2017. These have strengthened our management of biosecurity risks and relationship with MPI.
• Managing Health, Safety and Environmental issues relevant to our industry remains a top priority, with annual publication of an Agrichemical Residue Information chart for growers. Piperail Trolley Best Practice guidelines have been drafted with final consultation underway with Worksafe and greenhouse wastewater discharge guidelines for growers have been published.

 Share best practice and information transfer

• Conferences – annual opportunity for growers to network and hear from experts.
• Irradiated food labelling –TomatoesNZ successfully advocated for imported tomatoes from Australia to be labelled “irradiated”.
• www.tomatoesnz.co.nz provides industry specific information for growers and those interested in the industry including the latest news and hot topics.
• Promotional activities keep tomatoes at the fore- front with consumers through vegetables.co.nz. This includes funding resources and projects in education and health; availability of recipes and support of 5+ A Day and United Fresh.
• Supporting Young Vegetable Grower of the Year and Women in Horticulture.

 Market Led Export

• ‘Fresher by Sea’ research has enabled an increase in the shipping life of tomatoes to higher value markets beyond Australia. This contributed to fresh tomato exports to Japan expanding from under 500,000kg in 2013 to over 1million kgs in 2017.
• Asia fruit Logistica - from 2015 to 2017, TomatoesNZ funded a stand as part of the NZ pavilion in Hong Kong to raise awareness of New Zealand tomatoes, meet potential customers, and increase our understanding of the Asian markets.
• Export market access tools and advocacy assisting exporters with continuing to grow exports. Monitoring changes in exporting requirements, and participating in the Plants Market Access Council (PMAC).