3 Dec 2013

Sweet levy result for Summerfruit NZ

6:37 am on 3 December 2013

Stone fruit growers have given strong support to Summerfruit New Zealand to continue levy funding for another six years.

Growers voted last month on renewing a commodity levy that provides the organisation with most of its income.

About 35% of growers responded, accounting for $60 million of the industry's $80-$85 million and, of those, 80% supported the levy.

Chief executive Marie Dawkins rated it as the best response Summerfruit New Zealand has had to its levy votes.

"We have a really extensive research programme that we're conducting and so clearly we need the funding to continue that programme," she said.

Summerfruit New Zealand would be apply to the Government in the New Year to renew the current levy, which would expire next September.