Vegetable product group collaboration project moves ahead, with appointment of project manager

The vegetable product group collaboration project is moving ahead, with the announcement that James Kuperus has been appointed Project Manager.

‘We’re pleased that James has agreed to take on this pivotal role,’ says the project’s governance group* chair, Owen Symmans. 

‘Greater collaboration across the vegetable industry will result in greater efficiency, which will mean we can achieve more with each levy dollar for every vegetable grower. 

‘James brings considerable vegetable industry experience to the table, having been Onions NZ chief executive since 2018. James’s experience and understanding will be invaluable to ensuring that the collaboration project delivers a new model that provides vegetable growers with greater efficiency.’  

The project will look at options to bring about greater collaboration and address vegetable industry issues. This work by the vegetable industry fits with the Horticulture Industry Collaboration project that HortNZ is leading.

It is envisaged that any new, collaborative model will be approved by vegetable growers during the 2025 round of annual general meetings, which will start in August this year.

Between now and then, vegetable growers will have ample opportunity to express their views, before any final decisions are made.

Five vegetable product groups are participating in the collaboration project: Vegetables NZ, Process Vegetables NZ, Potatoes NZ, Onions NZ and TomatoesNZ. All these groups have agreed that a new collaborative model is needed to take the vegetable industry forward, keeping in mind there is still a lot of detail to be worked through.

James has resigned from his Onions NZ chief executive role to take up his new role on a fixed term contract. Kazi Talaska, who has been with Onions NZ since 2021, is moving into the role of Onions NZ general manager. Kazi has the support of the Onions NZ Board to step up. She officially starts in her new role on 1 April 2025. 

Owen says he is looking forward to bringing the collaboration project to a conclusion. 

‘It’s time we bit the bullet, put some resourcing towards this project, and do the work to develop the best structure for the industry going forward. The current model has served us well for the past 20 or so years.

‘What we need to do now is challenge ourselves and work through the issues and obstacles to ensure a new collaborative model is able to support vegetable growers’ needs for the next 20 plus years.’

Potatoes NZ Board member, Jon Davison, says ‘Potatoes NZ supports working collaboratively with other vegetable groups to get better outcomes for potato growers’.

Process Vegetables NZ Chair, David Hadfield, says ‘it is time for the vegetable groups to come together, so we are of scale and relevance to government, with our messages and requests. Coming together will also enable us to gain efficiencies in the use of levy dollars’.

TomatoesNZ Chair, Barry O’Neil says ‘TomatoesNZ strongly supports this initiative. We look forward to working with James to find solutions to the challenges inherent in any project like this.’ 

Vegetables NZ Deputy Chair, Warwick Simpson, says ‘a unified approach to advocacy will give better results for growers, and reducing duplication in other areas will make growers' levy go further. There are improvements to be made, so it makes sense to investigate how we can achieve that’.

Vegetable product group staff have been informed about the project and new appointments.

‘I will ensure that all our staff are kept up to date and have the opportunity to provide input into the project, as it progresses,’ says Owen.

*The project’s governance group comprises Board members from the five product groups participating in the project. In alphabetical order by organisation, they are:

• Owen Symmans, chair (Onions NZ)
• Jon Davison (Potatoes NZ)
• David Hadfield (Process Vegetables NZ)
• Simon Watson (TomatoesNZ)
• Warwick Simpson (Vegetables NZ)