Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Citrus growers vote against mandarin levy increase

Updated at 1:14 pm on 3 September 2010

Citrus growers attending their annual meeting being held in Gisborne, have voted against a levy on mandarins being increased next year to 1c a kilogram.

National chairman Rick Curtis says in the year ending March this year the levy brought in almost $45,000, and the increase would have potentially doubled the income.

But because of financial difficulties in the industry in the current economic climate people decided they weren't ready to do that, he says.

Mr Curtis says the major impact will be on research and development projects.

He says there was considerable debate at the AGM on a resolution to consider amalgamating the industry's three product groups, and the organisation will commission a review of the structure of the industry.

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