RUNNING A HIGH-HEALTH AND TRUENESS-TO-TYPE PROGRAMME^©

A number of crops have high health schemes to ensure that plants sold meet consumer expectations. Fruit crops have tended to lead the way because of the risk of disease spread, the relatively large number of units sold, and the importance of ensuring that plants sold are subsequently productive and true to type. In recent years, New Zealand government backed schemes have largely disappeared. This means that industry groups have had to take responsibility for high-health schemes where this is considered desirable. In berry crops, there are schemes for strawberries and blackcurrants and a blueberry plant scheme is being developed.