Below are just some of the stories our suppliers tell us about the success of New Zealand GAP (formerly known as the NZ Fresh Produce Approved Supplier Programme.)
Tasman Bay Herbs Year 10 achievement
NEW ZEALAND GAP HAS HAD BIG BENEFITS FOR A CHRISTCHURCH TOMATO COMPANY
Christchurch business advisor and human relations manager of Mainland Tomatoes, Gene Fitzgerald, says being an Approved Supplier has brought significant benefits for Mainland Tomatoes. We spoke to Gene last month to find out more.
Why are you so passionate about New Zealand GAP?
“We have a total commitment by management and staff to look for ways to continually improve in everything we do so that we can sell our tomatoes. By participating in New Zealand GAP we have become committed to its processes and found our leadership, processes, recording measurements, audits and values are continually improving as a result.
“I suggest to any grower contemplating becoming an Approved Supplier not to ask ‘where do I start?’ but instead to ask ‘what do I get out of it?’”
What have been the benefits for Mainland Tomatoes as a result of being an Approved Supplier?
“The benefits have been numerous. Ultimately, it has helped us raise the bar across everything that we do and therefore satisfy our customers’ needs. We now have a much greater appreciation of the importance of health and safety and how to manage and improve food standards, and we also have processes to ensure we have total traceability for everything we do.
“It’s also helped us develop systems for how to control pests, diseases and keep food safe, as well as develop and write systems for controlling and managing the pack house.”
Gene also says that being accredited to New Zealand GAP has:
- Helped Mainland Tomatoes prepare written procedures and directions for all to follow.
- Helped them better understand what is “critical” and “major” to succeed in meeting clients’ needs.
- Provided them with direction for developing a simple, clear, effective method to handle complaints.
- Raised their awareness of the necessity to communicate to clients, staff, and stakeholders in a clear, simple, effective way to meet standards, needs and keep them up to date.
WHY A PUKEKOHE POTATO AND ONION GROWER BECAME AN APPROVED SUPPLIER
Harry Das, a Pukekohe vegetable grower and co-owner of B Das & Sons, is the new Potato Product Group representative on the New Zealand GAP Management Committee. B Das & Sons was also one of the first companies to join the original Vegfed Quality Assurance Programme. We spoke to Harry about his experience with the programme and why B Das & Sons joined.
Tell us about B Das & Sons.
It’s a family business that my father started in the 1950s. Today my brother and I operate the business. We grow about 150 acres of onions for export, plus 100 acres of potatoes and 100 acres of mixed greens (including fallow land) primarily for the local market.
Why did B Das & Sons join New Zealand GAP?
We joined in 1999 after one of the supermarkets we supplied began encouraging its growers to become accredited to the programme. We thought the programme gave us a marketing edge over other growers because we could show that our crops had been grown using good agricultural practices. And it worked – we were two years ahead of many other players in the industry, and when the supermarket made accreditation to the Approved Supplier Programme a condition of supply we were already up to speed.
How has the programme benefited B Das & Sons?
Being an Approved Supplier has improved our knowledge of good growing practices. New Zealand GAP covers everything from crop management to OSH standards, and chemical use to vehicle maintenance. For example, it has encouraged us to set up systems to fine-tune and minimise fertiliser and spray applications according to crop needs, and IPM thresholds. Good records and planning take the guess work out of doing our job, and ultimately save us time and money as well as ensuring a quality product.
Why did you join the Management Committee?
I’ve always talked about getting involved in the industry, and when I heard that the Potato Product Group were looking for a representative for the New Zealand GAP Management Committee I thought I could offer a hand. Now that I’m involved, I hope I can help.
Every product group which is a full member of the New Zealand GAP Management Committee may decide to send a representative to Management Committee meetings following a resolution of its directors or governing board.
JAPANESE RETAILERS HELPING BUILD DEMAND FOR NEW ZEALAND BLACKCURRANTS
The New Zealand blackcurrant industry’s commitment to food safety has helped them become the preferred supplier to Japanese retailers, who are building demand for blackcurrants in Japan.
“The blackcurrant industry has always had a commitment to food safety. However in 2004 Blackcurrants New Zealand (BCNZ) decided its export growers should adopt one standard,” says BCNZ Product Group Manager, Ian Turk.
Instead of developing its own programme, BCNZ made it compulsory for all grower members to become Approved Suppliers under New Zealand GAP .
“New Zealand GAP was attractive because it was an established programme, had the support of the New Zealand Food Safety Authority, and was benchmarked to the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI),” says Ian.
Some of Japan’s largest retailers including Meiji are working closely with BCNZ, and over the last three years have invested heavily in a retail programme to grow demand for blackcurrants. “It’s a unique position we’re in to be working so closely with Japanese retailers. It’s very rare for a retailer to work so closely with a primary industry to grow demand for their product.
“We have also used the New Zealand GAP material which has been translated into Japanese and available from www.newzealandgap.co.nz, to demonstrate directly to our customers the extent of the industry’s commitment to producing a safe food product,” says Ian.
Ian explains that obtaining retailer support was a combination of New Zealand’s unique blackcurrants (NZ grows several varieties that are particularly high in anthocyanin, the chemical in blackcurrants with health promoting benefits), its co-coordinated approach to marketing and its commitment to food safety.
BCNZ is targeting Japan’s growing ‘nutriceuticals’ market – food with bioactive, chemical compounds that have health promoting benefits. BCNZ believes the market potential is significant, and because of the end product’s attributes, food safety assurance for all ingredients, including NZ blackcurrants, is critical.
““That we have a product that meets their food safety requirements has boosted their confidence to invest in a retail programme to build demand for New Zealand blackcurrants,” says Ian.
For previous stories see the archives