An organisation committed to helping growers innovate and contribute to the economy through exports and employment, celebrates its 100^th anniversary today.

Horticulture New Zealand, which can trace its foundations to the New Zealand Fruitgrowers Federation, formed in 1916, has always advocated for growers, says Horticulture New Zealand President Julian Raine.

'Our focus is on uniting fruit and vegetable growers to give a strong and unified voice on matters related to our part of food supply in New Zealand and our export markets.

'Looking back at the history of the organisation, there is very much a recurring theme of creating an environment where growers can innovate and grow and in doing so, contribute to the economy with jobs and exports.”

Horticulture New Zealand, along with its affiliated organisations, represents the interests of New Zealand's 5,500 commercial fruit and vegetable growers.

Based in Wellington, it works in key areas of advocacy which affect all growers including biosecurity, food safety, seasonal labour, education and training needs of the industry, and resource management issues around New Zealand.

The New Zealand horticulture industry is valued at more than $5 billion, with $3 billion in exports. The horticulture industry's goal is to reach a value of $10 billion by 2020.

When marking 50 years of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation in 1966, the then Prime Minister Sir Keith Holyoake said: 'The decision to provide an organised body to speak on behalf of the young industry has proved of great benefit to fruitgrowers. The addition of a trading side to the activities of the Federation has also been of very great help and the wisdom of this move is shown in the present extent and soundness of its operation.” (Foreword, Fruitful Years, by Rex Monigatti)

Twenty-five years later the then Prime Minister Jim Bolger said: 'As a nation we benefit from fruitgrowers' intensive use of land resources and labour. In addition our people benefit from a health-giving food produced in New Zealand orchards.” (Foreword, Fruitful Fields, by Rex Monigatti)

On 30 November 2005, Horticulture New Zealand was officially launched at the National Library, creating one organisation from the genetics of three: the New Zealand Vegetable and Potato Growers Federation (Vegfed), the New Zealand Fruitgrowers Federation and the New Zealand Berryfruit Federation.

The then Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton said: 'Horticulture plays an important part in the lives of all New Zealanders – what is our roast lamb dinner without our roast potatoes? What is Christmas without strawberries, apricots, raspberries and other seasonal fruit?”

Mr Anderton said the merger was logical …”it is more efficient to deal with the representatives of one industry organisation, especially when we are working on issues that affect the whole industry”.

'These words by prominent politicians over the past 50 years ring as true today,” Mr Raine says. 'A single organisation has more clout and is more efficient to run.

'We are now following a vision of ‘healthy food for all forever' and chasing a growth goal to double the value of the industry by 2020, to $10 billion. Horticulture is New Zealand's fourth largest export industry and employs 60,000 people in New Zealand.

'Horticulture is an exciting industry to be part of, and progress over the past 100 years now sees us using the best in science and innovation to produce and promote fruit and vegetables that have a worldwide reputation for safety, quality, and taste.”