A pipfruit commodity levy which came into force on 1 November means growers will pay 25% more than last year.
Pipfruit New Zealand's chief executive Peter Beaven says the levy has remained at 1 cent per kilogram of fruit since its introduction in 2001, apart from 2004 when it was cut to 0.75 of a cent due to large financial surpluses.
Mr Beaven says if Pipfruit New Zealand is to continue offering research services to support the industry at current levels, then the levy will need to increase.
About a third of the money raised from the levy goes to research for new varieties, with more than half the balance spent on other forms of research, he says.
