Growers call for labels

Press, 11 July 1988, Page 2

Growers call for labels

PA Wellington Vegetable growers are calling for compulsory • country-of-origin labelling on produce in shops and supermarkets. The Vegetable Growers’ Federation president, Mr Keith Jowsey, said consumers needed to know whether they were buying New Zealand or imported vegetables. The vegetable growing industry had been floating the idea for some time and lobbied the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Mrs Shields, to take up the idea.

Many New Zealanders would support locally grown produce, as it supported industry and kept people employed, he said. “I think it’s ludicrous that we import vegetables when we have the opportunity to produce them here,” Mr

Jowsey said. Imports of capsicum and courgettes this winter knocked the local industry. “It some local vegetable producers are knocked out of business, the consumer becomes very vulnerable.”

Bad weather from the importing country could stop imports and there would be no supply in New Zealand at all.

Mr Jowsey said New Zealand imported a wide range of vegetables, mainly from Australia.

Foodtown produce merchandise manager, Mr David Boyle, said locking out imports would hurt consumers.

“If we can bring produce into New Zealand more competitively than from' a domestic source, it’s our responsibility to do so,”