TomatoesNZ shared some key information on the upcoming fresh tomato commodity levy referendum. All fresh tomato growers that have paid a levy during the twelve months to 30 June 2018 are entitled to vote. Voting packs will be sent to all known levy payers by early July.
You can either vote online using the PIN and password that will be provided in your voting paper. Or you can return the completed voting paper by post in the reply prepaid envelope.
The initial levy rate will not change from the current levy rate of 0.35% (or 35c per $100 of sales). The ceiling for the maximum levy rate will change to 0.50% (or 50c per $100 of sales). Any shift from the initial levy rate of 0.35% must be approved by levy payers at an AGM.
Prior to 2013, the fresh tomato levy rate was higher – at 0.5625%. It was lowered at the last referendum because the levy was not all being spent and there was retained levy of nearly $1m. Since then, TomatoesNZ has run a deliberate strategy of reducing that retained levy, which is now down at around $550,000, or about 12 months of operating expenditure.