As summer harvests are underway, we welcome you to the 2025 newsletter.
We’re excited to embrace the coming year with new goals, fresh ideas and continue building on the successes of the past year. In this issue, we’ll cover Vegetables Big Day Out, young grower opportunities, events and more.
We welcome your feedback, please get in contact with anyone from the Potatoes New Zealand team with any queries.
Vegetables Big Day Out – Register Now!
Growers, you are encouraged to join the Vegetables Big Day Out on 3-4 February 2025. With indoor and outdoor sessions on recent research activity and insights from across the country, it is a must attend event.
Held in Pukekohe, there will be special guests invited from America, technology demonstrations in field, and a networking BBQ on the night of the Monday 3 February.
Even though the event is free, please register for catering purposes:
Potatoes Youth Council – Applications Open Next Week
The Potatoes New Zealand Youth Council will be open for applications starting next week. This is your chance to have your say and help shape the future of the potato industry. The aim of the council is to provide a platform for young people to actively contribute to the potato industry, representing future generation interests, fostering growth and encouraging leadership within the industry.
More information will be available next week.
Young Grower of the Year – Pukekohe Entries Open
Are you a passionate and talented young horticulturist ready to showcase your skills and make your mark in the industry? The Young Grower of the Year competition is your opportunity to shine!
This prestigious event celebrates the innovation, dedication, and expertise of the next generation of growers, offering an incredible platform to demonstrate your knowledge, practical abilities, and leadership potential.
By entering, you’ll gain valuable experience, build connections with industry leaders, and inspire others to pursue excellence in horticulture. Grab your chance to be part of this exciting journey—enter today and help shape the future of New Zealand’s thriving horticulture sector!
World Potato Congress – Webinars
Check out the range of World Potato Congress webinars. Covering a range of topic to keep you informed on what is happening around the world.
Expressions of Interest: Soil Health Study Tour 2025
Australia’s Soil Wealth and Integrated Crop Protection project has been running for 10 years. The project has provided research and development extension services, products, and communication on improved soil management and plant health. The project utilises multiple demonstration farms and grower champions to assess and promote a range of practices (composting, IPM, soil carbon, cover cropping, etc.) to better soil, crops, and growers.
There is a proposed Australian – Soil Health Study Tour for October 2025 to Melbourne and Tasmania. At the moment expressions of interest are being sought. If you would like to know more about this Tour, please complete the form and you will be kept informed on what is happening:
Open Farms
New Zealand’s national open farm day, is back on Sunday 9 March 2025.
Open Farms has streamlined the process for running your own Open Day providing farmers with a great opportunity to share your farming story. Registrations are open for farmers within 90 minutes of a major city to host an Open Day. If you’re interested, here are a few things to help your decision:
An overview on hosting with Open Farms >>
If you are interested in hosting an Open Day please register with Open Farms and let Potatoes New Zealand know, so we can support you as well: vasb@cbgngbrfam.pb.am
Welcome New Associate Member: Horticentre Group
Potatoes New Zealand is delighted to welcome Horticentre Group as a new Associate Member! The Horticentre Group supplies growers with an extensive range of world-class horticultural products supplemented by a large technical field-based team. We are thrilled to have you onboard and look forward to a lasting relationship together. Welcome!
Update on 2025 Regulations on Produce Labels Extended to 1 July 2028
The Government is extending the deadline for completing the transition to home compostable produce labels, which began in July 2023. New Zealand produce growers supplying the domestic market are required to use a label that meets home compostable standards, except for the adhesive.
The next step is to move to labels with home compostable adhesive, and for these regulations to apply to all produce sold into the New Zealand market, including imported produce. These requirements were due to come into effect from 1 July 2025. This has now been extended to 1 July 2028.
The extension gives domestic and international growers more time to switch to fully home compostable labels, which aligns more closely with the timing of regulatory changes overseas.
If you have any questions about this change, please contact Ministry for the Environment via: cynfgvpf@zsr.tbig.am.
Healthy Thinking and Mindset
Healthy Thinking helps you better manage the day-to-day ups and downs of farming.
Staying in the right headspace means you make good decisions, maintain positive relationships and cope well when the weather or global market throws you a curve ball.
Learning to cope when you’ve had a knock-back builds resilience. It’s a skill that anyone can learn and improve.
Resilient farmers draw on a network of people for help and advice. They also think in healthy ways, creatively solve problems and challenge their own view.
Events
View the events calendar
Find out about the horticulture and potato industry events and activities that are happening soon.
View now >>
NIWA National Weather Outlook
NIWA outlook for rain
NIWA outlook for dryness/drought
NIWA seasonal forecast for next 3 months
