Nelson pipfruit orchardists fed up with making losses for three straight years are reactivating grower groups as they call for changes to the industry.
Grower spokesperson Simon Easton says the Mahana Fruitgrowers Association and Motueka Fruitgrowers Association have been resurrected in response to an unrepresentative Pipfruit New Zealand structure.
Mr Easton, the interim chair of the Motueka group, says there has been overwhelming grower support for the formation of a grass-roots group to lobby the industry organisation and the Government.
He says Pipfruit NZ tends to handle the bigger issues such as access to various other markets but it's not hearing what the growers want any more - instead it's about the exporters, coolstore operators and packhouses.
Mr Easton says hopefully in a smaller forum growers will be more willing to ask questions.
He hopes more grower groups will be set up, and eventually merge to form a national growers body.
