The strawberry industry is experiencing its toughest trading conditions in years and the outlook is not great either.
Like most other horticultural operations, the strawberry industry is struggling with increasing production costs and low prices for its produce.
Growers are also faced with an ageing grower population and land and water use pressures.
Strawberry Growers New Zealand chair John Greensmith says it is a particularly hard time to be a grower and some will be pushed out.
He says strawberries are usually grown close to towns as a lot of labour is needed, but growers are also squeezed by urban sprawl and draw the ire of lifestyle block holders.
