Photo: Allied Press FilesManuka honey exporters have welcomed the Government's plan to help secure the term ''manuka honey'' for New Zealand, ensuring the multimillion-dollar industry is protected. Regional Economic Development (RED) Ministers have recently approved, in principle, $5.7million, which will come from Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) funding, for New Zealand manuka honey producers, including Maori. A spokeswoman for Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones said the PGF funding, once finalised, would go to the Manuka Honey Appellation Society (MHAS). A research component will also form part of the overarching programme of activity as a way of advancing the understanding and distinctiveness of manuka honey. Midlands, an Ashburton-based company, had already invested heavily in keeping its own manuka honey brands protected with stringent testing and packaging to prevent others copying their product.

Source: Otago Daily Times October 08, 2019 15:22 UTC