The Country 15/05/26: Michael Fox talks to Jamie Mackay

Zespri’s Head of Global Public Affairs is hosting the EU Ambassador in the Bay of Plenty, as we mark two years since the NZ-EU FTA came into force on May 1, 2024.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome back to the country. We're going to somewhere in
the bay a plenty. The key we fruit capital of
the country would have to be Tapoke, wouldn't it. Michael Fox,
head of global public affairs for Zesprey, Good afternoon. How
are you good?

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Afternoon, Jammi, How are you good?

Speaker 1 (00:13):
Whereabouts are you today? Topokey.

Speaker 2 (00:16):
We're actually in Muchapihi today, so sort of more in
central Titna at night took Angy's orchards. So we've got
the investadors of the EU, Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands
and Island with the deputy from Italy today. So we've
got what feels like all of Europe's representation in Titana today, and.

Speaker 1 (00:33):
You've got the European Union ambassadors to New Zealand. Lawrence
Meredith ran into him last year at the Primary Industry's
conference and awards. He's a champion. I did say to
have nothing good happens after midnight. He's a bit of
a tiger. Did you notice that he is?

Speaker 2 (00:49):
He is I'm not sure. I'm not sure he's learning
that listen, Jamie. But he is certainly a really great
advocate for Europe and good company.

Speaker 1 (00:55):
He's a very good company. So this is celebrating or
marking two years since the EU Free Trade Agreement came
into force on May one, twenty twenty four. How good
has it been for the key We fruit industry.

Speaker 2 (01:10):
It's been a yeah, it's been a great deal for us.
So we you know, two years since we've seen about
one hundred and fifty million dollars in teriff for relief.
But I guess the key thing is it's allowed us
to develop the market. So Europe is now last year,
so we'll release I've interviewed the results next week. But
last year we sold over one hundred million trees in
Europe for the first time and about two point three
billion dollars worth of sales in Europe, so the market's

(01:32):
growing really, really strongly. We expect to outdo that again
this year. And that's you know, obviously New Zealand fruit,
but also we have growing partners growers in Europe as well,
so it's market we're usually confident. But Jesus, the deal
has been it's been a really really strong one for us.

Speaker 1 (01:46):
So what did you say, an excess of two billions
that I picked that up correctly.

Speaker 2 (01:49):
Yeah, it's about two point three billion.

Speaker 1 (01:51):
Yeah, okay, well, and the key we freed exports are
what four or five billion? Is that I'm assuming that
makes it our biggest market or.

Speaker 2 (01:58):
Does it it is out Yeah, as a whole, Europe
is the largest. I think it's about one and three
pieces of fruit that we grow as sold there. So yeah,
so yeah, hugely strong opportunity for us. That total revenue
last year was about or the year before was a
bit of a five billion dollars and we expect obviously
whatever our financial results next year, but it's certainly a
really really strong market.

Speaker 1 (02:19):
So what are you impressing upon all these ambassadorial types
today in a bay.

Speaker 2 (02:26):
Well, I think the chemistage as partnership, you know. So
we talk about improving market access when it comes to
free trade agreements, but you kind of don't succeed by,
you know, by by operating alone. So, as I said,
we sell a lot of fruit into Europe and we
provide really high quality fruit to really health and conscious consumers.
But at the same time we have we have you know,
fourteen hundred odd growers around the world, we have supply

(02:47):
chain partners around the world. So there's esbre success sixty
is a really strong story for Europe as well, because
we support those growing communities and we support those businesses
we partner with there and so our messages, you know,
we're doing this together and actually there's a really good
opportunity moving forward.

Speaker 1 (03:01):
Hey, you just finally I take it all the croppers
off as the harvest completely finished.

Speaker 2 (03:06):
Only for gold. So the gold, the gold, the red
harvest is complete and about ninety eight percent sold through
gold basically all packed. But green still got a waste
to go. Green's only about thirty percent packed.

Speaker 1 (03:17):
Wow, it's a long season, isn't it.

Speaker 2 (03:20):
It is? Again, it's a lot of fruit to peck.
About one hundred and thirty one hundred what two hundred
and thirty I think our numbers. I see one hundred
and thirty million tray, So a lot of a lot
of fruit to peck and sell for sure.

Speaker 1 (03:30):
Okay, Michael Fox, what did I say? Michael Fox? Did I? Yes,
it is Michael Fox. Sorry, Michael, I'm just trying to
read too many pieces of paper at once. You are,
of course, you've got a very important title, your Zesper's
head of Global Public Affairs. Thanks for some of your
time and good luck with Lawrence tonight. Tell him I'll
be looking for him, looking for him at Field Days

(03:51):
and the Primary Industry Awards.

Speaker 2 (03:53):
Nice andMe, We do appreciate your time. Thank you.

Speaker 1 (03:55):
Cheers Michael Fox there. Yeah, he's a cracker. He's a
really smart guy. I must get him on the show.
Lawrence Meredith, the European Union Ambassador to New Zealand. Great
company too,