Investors see promising signs of recovery in infant formula sales in China – Point of Order:
After a rough ride since Covid-19 struck, the New Zealand economy is in better shape than might have been predicted at the onset of the pandemic. Yet labour shortages, an energy crisis in Europe and China, and massive inflationary pressures suggest that the passage ahead will be anything but smooth.
With the government abandoning the elimination strategy and moving towards living with endemic Covid, the country is adjusting to the prospect of a new normal. But without any sign of the number of cases of the Delta variant diminishing, restrictions may persist for longer than might have been imagined just weeks ago.
It’s a blow to industries looking to inflows of workers to ease labour shortages, particularly in the rural regions, which last season sustained the economy with the production of commodities that were in relatively tight supply in world markets, fetching excellent returns. . .
Anchor Food Professionals reaches $3bn in annual revenue :
Anchor Food Professionals – Fonterra’s foodservice business – has defied Covid challenges to become a $3 billion annual revenue business.
Fonterra says the milestone was pleasing, despite restaurants around the world being affected by Covid-19.
Chief executive Miles Hurrell said the success was down to the the co-op’s strong connection to customers.
“Our people have worked hard to find new ways of working with customers and new product applications to suit the pandemic environment, and we can see this has been a success. . .
Kiwifruit growers take Gisborne District Council to High Court over land valuation method – Alice Angeloni:
Kiwifruit growers are taking Gisborne District Council to the High Court for including the licence to grow the gold variety in rating land valuations.
The national body representing growers, NZ Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated (NZKGI), has brought a judicial review proceeding of the decision to the High Court, and is supporting a grower on Bushmere Road, who has lodged an objection to their property valuation before the Land Valuation Tribunal.
Gisborne was the first region to adjust land valuation methods to include the value of the gold kiwifruit growing licence, known as the G3 licence, on the rateable value of the property.
The move has resulted in a rates hike Gisborne growers called “absurd” and inequitable, with reports of rates tripling for some. . .
A farming mystery hits social media – Vincent Heeringa:
Regenerative farming: only one person knows what it means (and it’s not you), writes Vincent Heeringa, but it is vital that it becomes known and understood
A new report by Beef and Lamb NZ sheds fresh light on the role that regenerative farming could play in growing our primary sector exports. The news is encouraging. Conducted by US food researcher Alpha Food Labs, the report shows that ‘conscious consumers’ in Germany, the UK and the US have a strong appetite for sustainable foods – and are even hungrier for foods labelled regenerative.
“After learning about the benefits of regenerative agriculture, the proportion of consumers willing to pay 20 percent or more increased in the United Kingdom and Germany, as well as the proportion willing to pay substantially more (i.e. 30 percent more) at least for the United States and Germany.” . . .
New Zealand pork tackles common misconceptions about pork nutrition :
As World Iron Awareness Week comes to a close, New Zealand Pork is reminding Kiwis of the many benefits of enjoying New Zealand pork as part of a healthy balanced diet.
“There are several misconceptions about pork, so this campaign has been designed to bust a few myths and give consumers simple easy facts around some benefits of enjoying delicious New Zealand pork in their diet,” says New Zealand Pork’s nutrition advisor Julie North of Foodcom.
“Some people believe all pork is a fatty meat, thinking of a pork roast with a thick layer of crackling or a juicy pork belly. However, most cuts of pork are quite lean when the external fat (which is easy to remove) is cut off. By trimming off the outer layer of fat, New Zealand pork is quite a lean meat.” . .
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