Alasdair MacLeod is carrying out the industry review and has provided us with this update.
The industry review has commenced, with the interview questionnaire designed for growers, packers and exporters, as well as interview questionnaires for MPI, MBIE and other sector groups and interest groups. An interview questionnaire has also been developed to be used in an online survey, so that all levy payers have the opportunity to participate in the process.
The first trial interview with a grower has been done, as well as the first trial interview with an external organisation. I have deliberately kept away from growers while you are busy with your seasonal peak, but over the next week a number of you will be contacted to arrange a time when I can meet you for individual interviews. Each interview takes a round one and a half hours – I appreciate that you are all busy people, but I want to learn as much as I can about what is important to you over the next 5-10 years as growers/packers/exporters.
It is worth pointing out that the initial contact to set up the times will be from Summerfruit NZ. This is for efficiency reasons, and it has no impact on the independence of the process. Once interviewees have been contacted, the online questionnaire will be published on this website and announced in Prunings.
I’m very much looking forward to meeting a number of you over the next six weeks or so, and to get the opportunity to explore in some detail the issues that you expect to confront and the opportunities that you see ahead as you look out over the next 5-10 years.