Cardio Vascular Health, Fuit and Segetable Consumption & The Power of EU Policy to Promote Both

United Fresh was pleased to be part of the Biosecurity New Zealand Forum in Auckland today where the  Biosecurity 2025 Implementation Plan was launched by the Biosecurity 2025 Steering Group.

As you are aware, United Fresh was awarded a Sustainable Farming Fund project in June 2018, which is entitled “Effective Fresh Produce Traceability Systems” (Project 405482).

Recent News on the WIC Prgramme

Horticulture New Zealand is thrilled that mandatory Country of Origin labelling for fruit and vegetables got a step closer today, with the second reading of the Consumers’ Right to Know (Country of Origin of Food) Bill passing in Parliament.

In light of the recent shocking Australian strawberry tampering event, the New Zealand produce industry is taking every action possible to reassure customers their safety systems are robust.

Fight Against Obesity

New research into the impact of Fruit & Vegetables in Schools (FIS) has found it is the widest-reaching health initiative for low decile schools in New Zealand, vastly improving health and education outcomes for students.

Our United Fresh President Jerry Prendergast and General Manager Paula Dudley attended the Horticulture New Zealand launch of a Deloitte report New Zealand’s Food Story – The Pukekohe Hub.

In order for fruit and vegetables to reach New Zealand shoppers in an acceptable quality and food safety related condition, a number of things need to occur.

Our guidelines for complying with weights and measures for the fresh produce value chain has been updated.

We are pleased to announce work has begun on a three-year project to investigate traceability within the industry. 

Fruit and vegetables to prevent allergy and asthma

Like consumer goods, fresh produce is subject to Government regulations in the area of weights and measures.

TAG has been working on three activities within the Biosecurity field; The fruit Fly Council, the Government Industry Agreement (GIA) process and the National Biosecurity Competency Network (NBCN).

Applications for PLU Codes are now managed by United Fresh here in New Zealand, if you require a PLU Code please make contact with TAG Chair, Dr Hans Maurer hmaurer@agrichain-centre.com

Myrtle rust has been detected in Manawatu for the first time, the Ministry for Primary Industries confirmed today. The fungus was found on a young ramarama (Lophomyrtus) in a planted area off Victoria Esplanade in Palmerston North.

The Hon David Parker (Minister of Economic Development) has released the Cherry Industry report, as part of three reports released as part of the Food & Beverage Information Project.    

Fruit and Vegetable Availability at Home

The NSW Food Authority is advising consumers who are most vulnerable to Listeria infection such as older persons, and people who have weakened immune systems due to illness or pregnancy, to avoid eating rockmelon after a recent spike in listeriosis cases in elderly people has been linked to the fruit.

An outbreak of listeriosis has taken place in New South Wales with an unexpected increase in cases in January and February.

Influence of fruit and vegetable school intervention on children's consumption

Consumers, retailers, wholesalers, packhouses and growers alike are all familiar with fruit label- the tiny stickers commonly found on oranges, apples, kiwifruit, avocadoes and a myriad of other produce.

Consume fruit and vegetables for your mental health

Healthy Diet & Cardiovascular disease

Nutrition and Eye Health

Healthy Diet and Pregnancy

The New Zealand Food Awards, in association with Massey University, were held last week and fresh produce shined through.

United Fresh has launched on LinkedIn, join with members and industry leaders for updates and professional connections

We are pleased to announce three new members: Karaka Park Produce Ltd, Viscount FCC & R C Hari & Sons Ltd

The 5+ A Day's television commercial had great pick up in the winter months and will be back on TVNZ during November

To see Robin's answers to our Q&A, click below.

Recent media reports suggesting consumers require less than five portions of fruit and vegetables each day are misleading, creating confusion with consumers and are not in the interest of public wellbeing says the organisation 5+ A Day.

United Fresh has just completed an update of its nutrition information panels (NIPs) for the entire fresh fruit and vegetable sector

United Fresh Technical Advisory Group members have attended several conferences as reported in this update.

Social approaches to promote fruit and vegetable consumption

If you are attending the Horticulture New Zealand Conference in Tauranga this week be sure to catch Dr Hans Maurer our United Fresh Knowledge Officer

For the latest update on Myrtle Rust visit here:

For the latest update on Myrtle Rust visit here:

They feature our 5+ A Day Ambassadors and everyday Kiwis embracing inclusivity and the fact that eating more fresh fruit and vegetables is a simple action everyone can take to improve their own health.

Food Preferences

As you can see from the banner, our name has changed. We are no longer the Food Safety and Traceability Committee, but the Technical Advisory Group (TAG).

Thursday 22nd June 2017 at 3.30pm
Followed by Refreshments & Networking 4:30pm to 7pm

If you are making decisions around refrigeration assets you need to know significant change is happening

The updated healthy nutirion programme for Women, Infants and Children (US) - WIC

Join the United Fresh Executive and Members for our AGM and Members’ Meeting followed by refreshments, at Mantells on the Water in Auckland.

Barriers to Fruit and Vegetable Consumption

Fruit and vegetables: still surprising!

On Thursday the 9th of March at 11am, LeaderBrand Produce Ltd. was advised that one of its salad product lines tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes bacteria or ‘Listeria’ as it is more commonly known.

Our member’s meeting will include updates from our President, Food Safety & Traceability Committee, the 5+ A Day Charitable Trust and other relevant industry projects that are currently underway.

United Fresh in partnership with The New Zealand Institute of Plant & Food Research are currently updating all fresh fruit and vegetable Nutrition Information Panels (NIPs)

The Food Act is a new law for Food Safety, which came into effect on 1st March 2016.

Perfect timing for a national fruit and vegetable nutrition policy

More than 104,000 students are benefitting from the successful Fruit in Schools initiative as a new term kicks off in 2017. 

Auckland, New Zealand – With over 1,400 price look-up codes (PLUs) now in use around the globe, the International Federation for Produce Standards (IFPS) has launched a user-friendly app

Media Release – Fresh fruit and vegetables add to workplace wellness

Diet quality in the early years

Food Labeling

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says this year's expansion of the successful Fruit in Schools initiative to a record 547 schools has had a positive impact.

The Biosecurity space is getting busy!

United Fresh Fruit Fly Emergency Response Workshop

United Fresh management met with the Heart Foundations’ Tick management team last week and were advised that the Tick will be retired to make way for the Governments 5-Star rating.

During the last 12 months United Fresh has worked with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) on developing a document template suitable for all wholesale markets, retail produce distribution centres and produce merchants receiving fruit and vegetables into their premises for redistribution to retail outlets, branches, members or directly to the consumer.

Leadership and collaboration are vital to keep New Zealand’s horticulture industry blooming, says the new president of the country’s only pan-produce organisation.  

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programme in USA & Healthy Eating

Health officials in Havelock North have issued a boil water notice for Council water supply.

In May 2016 the United Fresh Food Safety & Traceability Committee submitted a “Strategic Assessment in the New Zealand Domestic Fresh Produce Industry”

Eating healthier in US restaurants.

Our United Fresh AGM & Members meeting held in Auckland on Thursday 12th May 2016 was well received by around 80 of our members who attended the event.

The 5+ A Day Charitable Trust is pleased to announce a new brand ambassador partnership with health and wellbeing bloggers, Julia & Libby.

New research by the University of Auckland has found that the 5+ A Day resource is the most used accross New Zealand’s early childhood education centres.

Our United Fresh AGM & Members meeting held in Auckland on Thursday 12th May 2016 was well received by around 80 of our members

Health Benefits of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption

Following our engagement with the Health Star Rating (HSR) development team when the system launched, we have had further communications

Approval of using the 5+ A Day and Tick logos has been streamlined with our new Branding Approval Centre.

If you haven’t registered for the United Fresh AGM and Members Meeting please do so here.

Food Taxes & Subsidies

Please join us for our United Fresh Members Meeting and AGM.

Try your hand at cycling, running or walking this month.

This report is a snapshot of some highlights for our organisation and our members as we work through 2016

MPI Surveillance Manager Brendan Gould says two weeks of trapping, fruit sampling and testing have passed and no further Tau flies have been found.

New Food Act and Guidelines for Fresh Produce Food Safety

No further Tau Flies have been detected. The total remains as 1 male Tau Fly detected.

No further Tau Flies have been detected. The total remains as 1 male Tau Fly detected.

MPI will be establishing a Controlled Area this afternoon in Manurewa, South Auckland as a result of a single Tau fly detection.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the Fruit in Schools programme will be expanded to include an extra 77 schools, benefiting an additional 13,000 students.

Results from testing have now confirmed that the fifth person, who recently contracted Hepatitis A, as reported last week, has the same strain of the virus as the other four people who fell sick with Hepatitis in late October and early November this year.

With your support, the Queensland fruit fly is no longer residing in Auckland.

General Situation remains unchanged since the November update.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has released a media statement today regarding imported frozen berries and four reported cases of Hepatitis A.

October and November have been busy for the United Fresh Food Safety & Traceability Committee.

The 5+ A Day Charitable Trust is about to raise consumption and the roof with its all new adult 5+ A Day Challenge this coming February.

It was great to see our members showcasing their fresh produce at last weekend’s Taste of Auckland event at Western Springs.

The United Fresh Executive, along with invited guests recently took part in a Strategic Review meeting.

General Situation remains unchanged since the October update. No additional fruit flies have been detected since the last report.

We are pleased to present our Biosecurity, Food Safety & Traceability and Food Law Workshop in partnership with the Ministry for Primary Industries.

Food Safety Minister Jo Goodhew launched an online tool today that will help food businesses discover how they will be affected by the new Food Act 2014, which comes into force in March next year.

One of New Zealand’s largest scientific research organisations, Plant & Food Research, has joined United Fresh. UF General Manager, Paula Dudley, says the organisation is looking forward to continuing its work with the highly regarded scientific institute.

The 5+ A Day Charitable Trust were proud sponsors of the National Secondary Schools Culinary Challenge (NSSCC) this year and congratulate Burnside High School for taking out the grand prize and scholarship.

United Fresh partnered with Horticulture New Zealand to present a 90 minute breakout session on Food Safety, Food Security and Your Business Planning at the HortNZ 2015 Conference this year.