I love this time of year as the weather warms up and the days draw out: there's a real sense of anticipation for the season ahead. Watching orchards transform is always a great part of the season, and I wish everyone well with their preparations.
Your voice: AGM and export deadlines
Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) is just around the corner on Friday 7 November. This is an important opportunity to influence the governance and direction of Summerfruit NZ.
The meeting will again be run online from Wellington. While we don’t anticipate anyone being able to attend in person, you are more than welcome if you happen to be in town! We'll be sending out the formal Notice of AGM next week, which will include all the supporting documents and login details.
I want to thank those growers who completed their registrations for Japan and Western Australia before the 25 September deadline. I’d also like to provide a gentle reminder that the hard deadline for all other export registrations (growers, exporters, and packhouses) is 31 October.
Driving prosperity through R&D
Innovation is critical to our long-term success, making Research and Development (R&D) a priority area. I will be working with the board to accelerate Summerfruit NZ’s strategic investment in R&D moving forward.
As part of this push, we are recruiting a for a new Technical Manager role to work alongside our current Technical Advisor, Richard Mills before he retires in February 2026.
The new manager will take the lead on the strategic focus and efficient delivery of our R&D portfolio. To ensure a seamless handover, Market Access Solutionz Scientific Services Manager, Dr. Sally Anderson will partner with the new Technical Manager during an extended transition period.
The size of our industry means co-investment to advance R&D is essential. The private sector can't drive all the necessary innovation alone and Summerfruit NZ, as the industry body, must partner if we are to accelerate significant outcomes in areas like crop protection.
We are deeply committed to transparent and contestable levy investment, and have developed a decision matrix that clearly shows how we prioritise crop protection investments. It’s available on the Portal, and I encourage you to review it – all feedback is most welcome.
Get involved: upcoming sessions
Your feedback is vital to keep our focus aligned with your needs. Please join these upcoming online sessions to share your input:
- Online workshop: the Bioeconomy Science Institute (BSI, formerly Plant & Food Research) update (3 November): BSI researchers will provide updates on biological product and canker control product screening, resistance management and artificial pollination.
- Online workshop: agrichemical R&D update and prioritisation (11 November): Summerfruit NZ will update you on current agrichemical trials and actively seek your input to shape our future research priorities.
Also, look out for details on a BSI-organised Field Day on 12 November (Central Otago) and 18 November (Hawke’s Bay), where they’ll discuss findings from the understory and Future Orchard Planting System (FOPS) projects.
Your engagement in these discussions is vital. It ensures our collective investment delivers maximum return for every member. I also look forward to catching up with many of you at the AGM, albeit online in most cases.