The New Zealand Food Safety Science & Research Centre (FSSRC) has produced a further literature review update on the potential relationship between foodborne transmissions and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).

This edition provides an update on the work conducted towards sustainability of the fresh produce sector, as well as highlighting the importance of food safety, Traceability and how to improve them.

There is no question that the world has changed immensely in the space of just 12 months. The unprecedented scale of the COVID-19 pandemic has touched the lives of every New Zealander and the implications of the national lockdown will be felt for years to come. 

2021 will be a very active and eventful year for the global fresh produce industry and the United Nations are at the forefront of events that impact upon our industry. 

New Zealand produce industry leader and United Fresh Knowledge Officer, Dr Hans Maurer, will help represent global horticulture sector interests in the lead up to United Nation’s Food Systems Summit next year. 

A record 26 million servings of fresh fruit and vegetables will be given to low decile school children next year, with calls to expand the initiative in light of last week’s alarming Poverty Monitor 2020 report.

The Government is offering further financial support for unemployed New Zealanders to take on seasonal work. These new incentives include...

Within the wider Food Safety landscape, we would like to draw your attention to an emerging risk, related to the behaviour of pathogens, and especially the learning that is occurring on how some pathogens are adapting to different environmental conditions in the open world.

This is a topic that is not going to go away in a hurry, like it or not. In its own right, COVID-19 clearly represents a risk to human health, as well as a risk to our economy.

The objective of the Food Safety Risk Framework project is to provide to industry a science based New Zealand centric framework that identifies the highest food safety risks to the industry and allows effective targeting of research funds and activities.

Research commissioned by industry collective Women in Horticulture (WiH) shows significant gender disparity amongst senior roles in New Zealand’s horticulture industry.

Worldwide, produce industry bodies have been increasingly working with GS1 to implement national Traceability guidelines in a coordinated manner that are interoperable and enable rapid reactivity.

Reliable and robust Traceability systems are no longer an optional extra in the produce industry, but a baseline requirement of increasing importance.

The Prime Minister has announced that Auckland will remain at Alert Level 3 until Sunday 30th August at 11:59pm, as decided at the Cabinet Meeting today

New Zealand’s most successful and effective school-based nutrition initiative Fruit & Vegetables in Schools (FIS) has been selected for inclusion in a report for the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Prime Minister announced on Wednesday 12 August that all businesses must display a NZ COVID Tracer QR code from 11:59am on Wednesday 19 August.

To follow is the most up-to-date information from the Ministry for Primary industries on the unlikely transmission of COVID-19 by food or food packaging.

A consultation document seeking the input of New Zealand’s fresh produce industry has been released this month as part of a significant project to assess and improve traceability within the industry.

With every crisis there is opportunity, during the COVID-19 crisis, surplus food waste was created due to the forced shutdown of plants and normal food supply channels.

The Government has launched a bold plan to boost primary sector export earnings by $44 billion over the next decade, while protecting the environment and growing jobs.

We have recently developed the Draft Traceability Guidelines that have evolved from the Sustainable Farming Fund Project “Effective Produce Traceability Systems”, managed by United Fresh.

This edition discusses activities and initiatives underway in the food safety and traceability arena over the last year. We examine the increasing collaboration across industry in food safety and a proposed New Zealand Fresh Produce Food Safety Framework Research Project.

Now we have moved into Alert Level 1 everyone can return without restriction to work, school, sports and domestic travel, and you can get together with as many people as you want.

Fruit & Vegetable Consumption and Cardiovascular Diseases Prevention

United Fresh commissioned research late last year with Nielsen Research looking into Consumer Trends Impacting Fresh Produce.

The New Zealand Food Safety Science Research Centre (NZFSSRC) have released an update of the potential for foodborne transmission of Covid-19 literature review.

Up to 1 million Kiwis Predicted to be Affected in 2020. ‘Kiwis helping kiwis’ is the driving force behind an initiative of more than 700 boxes of fresh produce being donated to families hit by the Covid-19 crisis by one of our country’s largest locally owned and operated companies.

New Zealand Food Safety, a business unit of the Ministry for Primary Industries, has published the results of its recent Food Residues Survey Programme (FRSP). 

Food Environment and the Impact on Food Consumption

Guide to Keeping Our People & Workplaces Well During ALERT LEVEL 3 and Essential Businesses to stay on restricted access during ALERT LEVEL 3

The government shared earlier today the work that has been done on updating the COVID-19 Alert Levels. You will find the updated levels here.
 

Fresh produce deemed for the Fruit and Vegetables in Schools (FIS) initiative is now being diverted to families in need during Covid-19 lockdown.

United Fresh is cooperating with wide range of food industries and organisations to support the New Zealand Food Safety & Science Research Centre literature review update Potential For Foodborne Transmission Of Covid-19.

The government website for COVID-19 has been updated with the correct information for consumers around the washing of fresh fruit and vegetables once they get them home. We had asked them to remove their advice of using soapy water last week so it is great to see this has happened.

New Zealanders can safely purchase fresh fruit and vegetables during COVID-19 and our country’s only pan-produce organisation that represents the entire value-chain, United Fresh, is reminding Kiwis to wash all produce as you normally would by rinsing it under the tap before consuming it.

MPI starting site visits today, Friday 27th March and United Fresh Physical Distancing poster shared.

MPI answers questions about 2m distancing rule, access to protection equipment, workers over 70, independant F&V shops and movement to & from work.

As New Zealand moves into National Alert Level 4 in response to COVID-19, the primary industries have been included on the list of essential services and fruit and vegetable stores to close.

COVID Alert Level 4 Description & United Fresh Guide to Keeping Our People & Workplaces Well – Continuity Planning for Businesses 

The government has now put New Zealand into Alert Level 3 (and indicated that this will go to Alert Level 4 in 48 hours).

As we all work together as a nation and industry to contain the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) to help protect our people, United Fresh will continue to provide updates for our industry to assist with business continuity.

The government has created a website that has everything you need to know about COVID-19 in one place.

Our colleagues at the New Zealand Food Safety Science & Research Centre (NZFSSRC) have shared their Literature Review on Foodborne Transmission of COVID-19 for the food industry.

United Fresh and the New Zealand Food Safety Science Research Centre (NZFSSRC) jointly ran a Food Safety workshop in Auckland on 12th March 2020. 

Food Promotion Research,

We are all very concerned about the potential impact  COVID-19 could have on our businesses. The purpose of this update is to distil the key messages of what we need to consider.

https://5adayeducation.org.nz/learningNew Zealand’s most successful and effective school-based nutrition initiative is applauding progress to reduce child poverty and says providing fresh fruit and vegetables is crucial to ensure ongoing success.

This edition discusses food safety aspects related to fresh berryfruit, melons and leafy vegetables. 

Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Mental Health

Biosecurity New Zealand has ended its Northcote fruit fly operations and lifted restrictions on the movement of fruit and vegetables on Auckland's North Shore.

Between the Australian bushfires, Greta Thunberg and the rise of the conscious millennial consumer, 2020 is set to be a year in which the health of the planet becomes as important as the health of ourselves and our families.

United Fresh is pleased to present this valuable workshop for members in partnership with the New Zealand Food Safety Science and Research Centre.

Challenges and interventions to increase fruit and vegetable consumption

Climate Change increasingly affects food production. The changes to temperatures and rainfall patterns from climate change are being predicted to lead to a 2-6% decline crop yields every decade, as droughts, fires, floods, shifting seasons, and increased insect populations impact on our ability to grow crops.

The New Zealand Science and Research Centre have recently launched the ‘Science and the Plastics Problem’ documentary.

Currently, United Fresh is working on two aspects of industrial gases and proposed new regulations that will impact the fresh produce industry: refrigerant gases and the fumigant Methyl Bromide.

There are no event related updates at this point in time. At the time of writing, the Northcote Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone remains in place. 

Childhood Obesity

United Fresh was one of 50 New Zealand companies to sign up today at the launch event of the first-of-its-kind Biosecurity Business Pledge to protect New Zealand from pests and diseases.

In this issue we are looking at three articles on climate change and its potential impact on foodborne illness, production and business management.

Recent news on the special supplemental nutrition programme for women, infants and children (WIC)

Our Members' Meeting last month was the largest yet and the presentations are now available in the members’ only section of our website.

Our SFF Traceability project is looking to assist members and the entire value-chain by providing some understanding on how internal Traceability systems can be improved and external Traceability systems can become more robust and streamlined.

FPSC Ltd is seeking nominations to fill two Board vacancies, one from New Zealand (effective from 27 November 2019).

Scholarship Support for Senior, Mid and Early Career Managers in the Farming and Agriculture Sector.

New research shows breakfast could provide the greatest opportunity for our fresh produce industry to convince more Kiwis to consume fruit and vegetables. 

General Practitioners and Health Promotion

Welcome to the first edition of our Technical Advisory Group's Food Safety Updates. This update covers the release of MPI's Draft Food Safety Strategy.

As we are nearing the end of winter, Biosecurity New Zealand’s fruit fly response in the Northcote area is about to step up again, with the focus on maintaining controls and resuming baiting and more intensive trapping.

With the spotlight on climate change growing hotter by the day, we’re all starting to think about the small things we can do as individuals to save the planet we inhabit.

Kiwi parents and school principals overwhelmingly back the Fruit & Vegetables in Schools (FIS) initiative and new research shows there’s a strong desire for the Government-funded scheme to be expanded.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has completed an administrative review of Import Health Standards (IHSs) for fresh fruit and vegetables for human consumption.

"It is that continued vigilance that led to the discovery of another single male fruit fly on 15 July in a trap in the current controlled area, 350 metres from where the last was found on 31 May," says Biosecurity New Zealand spokesperson Dr Catherine Duthie.

When French Young General Practitioners Commit to Healthy Eating

United Fresh Technical Advisory Group Representative Anne-Marie Arts will be presenting an update on the Sustainable Farming Fund Traceability Project.

The Key Role of General Practitioners in Health Promotion

The Ministry of Health has confirmed the extension of the United Fresh-managed Fruit & Vegetables in Schools initiative now providing over 120,000 servings of fresh fruit and vegetables each school day nationwide.

Despite the large on the ground efforts, another male fruit fly was found last week in one of the network of fruit fly traps.

Tackling Childhood Obesity, How to Make Childhood Lifestyle Healthier?

Need for food system change to modify consumption

United Fresh is providing funding for the new Women in Horticulture group...

Cruciferous Vegetables Intake & Health Benefits

Controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables in Devonport and Ōtara have been lifted. The restrictions in place on the movement of fruit and vegetables and the current baiting programme in Controlled Zones in the North Shore suburb of Northcote remain in place.

Diet quality and bone health

Welcome to Part Two of our United Fresh Trend Report including cannabis and beauty benefits! Global indications show fresh fruit and vegetables at the top of every trend list.

One of the new finds is inside the current Zone A and the other is in Zone B.

A fourth male Queensland fruit fly has been found in Northcote and another Facialis fruit fly has been found in Ōtara.

Further biosecurity restrictions on the movement of fruit and vegetables in the Auckland suburb of Northcote are being put in place, following the find of a third Queensland fruit fly in the area.

A second Queensland fruit fly has been found in a surveillance trap in the Auckland suburb of Northcote. The detection was in what is known as Zone A in Northcote and was 113 metres from the original detection there.

A second Facialis fruit fly has been found in a surveillance trap in the Auckland suburb of Ōtara, just 70 metres from the first detection earlier in the week.

Ministry for Primary Industries will be presenting on the three recent fruit fly findings and will be providing clarity to industry on the protocols required when transporting fresh fruit and vegetables in and through the Controlled Areas.

Surveillance activity in Auckland will be stepped up following the discovery of a second Queensland fruit fly on the North Shore.

A second type of fruit fly, (Bactrocera facialis - the "facialis fruit fly") has been found in a surveillance trap in the Auckland suburb of Otara.

Whether you’re growing it, selling it or just eating it, fresh produce in New Zealand is a core staple in every household. With great growing conditions and an innovative, versatile industry, we’re lucky to have access to some of the tastiest fruit and vegetables on the planet.

Biosecurity New Zealand is investigating a find of a single male Queensland fruit fly in a surveillance trap in the Auckland suburb of Devonport.

We are excited to let our members and supporters know that our advertising begins for the New Year this Sunday on Television One and Two encouraging all Kiwis to eat more fresh fruit and vegetables.

Food Nutrition Quality and Environmental Impact

The 8th EGEA Conference - Nutrition and Health: from Science to Practice

Following our attendance at the PMA-ANZ Fresh Produce Safety Conference we have produced a document to share the new findings on Listeria. 

We have created a PowerPoint presentation to simplify the findings of the Literature Review and to enable organisations to share this with their team.

Cardio Vascular Health, Fruit 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.