The Development of Organic Horticultural Exports in New Zealand

The following report presents a summary of findings from a series of publications arising from the FRST Public Good Science Fund programme ‘Optimum Development of Certified Organic Horticulture in New Zealand’. This research programme started in 1995, and in mid 1998 had completed three years of research into four regional case studies of organic export development. To date, there have been a number of reports and other publications which have sought to outline various aspects of organic agriculture in New Zealand1, contribute to reviews of the organic industry2, or attempt to situate organic developments in New Zealand within wider trends in world agriculture, politics and trade3. Given the wide content of these publications, the many different arenas in which they have been published, and the encouraging level of interest from members of the organic agriculture industry, it is timely that an attempt be made to provide a basic summary of the findings. The present report attempts to do this in a way that is accessible to participants in the industry, and which will attempt to answer key questions about the industry. The most important issue is identifying key factors involved in successful exporting of organic products