Berryfruit marketing body draws near

Press, 26 November 1982, Page 22

Berryfruit marketing body draws near

Legislation to create a Berryfruit Marketing Licensing Authority could be passed by Parliament during the current session.

A paper outlining the proposed authority will be submitted to the Government by December 10. Mr Tom Johnson, executive officer of the Berryfruit Growers’ Federation, said the interest in a marketing body had arisen after problems in Europe last year with prices for boysenberries and black currants.

The proposed authority would have one representative from each of the product councils (boysenberry, black currant and blueberry councils with more groups joining as necessary).

There would also be representatives from the Berryfruit Growers Federation, one member appointed by the Minister of Agriculture, and two members appointed by the berryfruit exporters. If passed, the legislation

would enable the authority to promote and assist with exporting, set packing and grading standards, and issue export licences. Outlining the reasons behind the proposed authority, Mr Johnson said that the berryfruit industry had only recently moved Into export.

“Large increases in boysenberry and black currant production over the last few seasons mean that the domestic market is now covered and growers can think about exporting,” he said.

“Last season there were European markets available for these products but prices fell because of disorganised marketing. "Growers don’t want a repeat of the European fiasco of 1981/82. They want their produce logically marketed under a controlled situation," Mr Johnson said.

“The Berryfruit Marketing Licensing Authority would give this control?