Surveys on horticultural exports available to industry soon

Press, 9 April 1980, Page 20

Surveys on horticultural exports available to industry soon

Two major market re search surveys currently underway in the United States are expected to yield new information soon on New Zealand’s identity as a sup plier of horticultural products and the export poten tial there for cut flowers. The two projects have been commissioned by the horticultural research unit of the New Zealand ExportImport Corporation whose general manager (Mr C. B. Stanworth) said that the information obtained will be released to the whole industry. '

The upit, which operates with a Government grant, was set up 18 months ago to co-ordinate. research into horticultural products 'ex-porting—-already responsible for about $l5O million a

/ear in overseas exchange warnings. The two surveys currently underway follow other research into berryfruit exporting. And recent extensive research among growers of resh fruit will result soon n delivery to the horticultural research unit of a draft handbook on how best to package these products for export. ■' Mr Stanworth said the survey on United States attitudes to New Zealand as a horticultural products ’ exporter promises to be the most interesting sb far commissioned.

It is being undertaken by an international research organisation and results are to be available some time next month. < • '.‘■“There are no clever questions — we merely want to

know from our U.S. customers what they think of us as horticultural product exporters and to isolate the main factors in their thinking so that the industry can either capitalise on them or attempt to change them.” Depending on the findings of the U.S. survey, the research unit may have similar surveys conducted in Japan and Europe.

Mr Stanworth said the unit decided on the cut flower survey because modem propagating techniques will mean there will be a huge upsurge in production over the next five years, and exports will become of key importance. The horticultural research unit decided to survey the potential for them in North America because to date it would appear ah untapped

market for cut flowers. Results are expected in July or August. “We believe the best opportunities for increased exports of cut flowers probably lie in the Pacific Easin area, given the difficulty of keeping them fresh during transport.” The survey on growers’ approaches to packaging horticultural products, particularly fresh fruit for export, showed that more thought could be given to preventing damage and providing proper ventilation. The research organisation involved was commissioned to produce a draft handbook on the subject. The horticultural unit will discuss the draft with packaging companies, after which it will be made available to all growers, Mr Stanworth said.