New Zealand starts f ightback in food miles debate: Food miles campaigns are based on 'shonky science to justify protectionism' reckons New Zealand's agriculture minister Jim Anderton. He spoke exclusively to Chris White

摘要

NEW Zealand kiwifruit is centre stage in a debate that has taken off in the UK and other parts of Europe that Links the Level of greenhouse gas emissions to the long-distance trade in this top-selling fresh fruit. The story about so-called "food miles" is now gaining wide coverage in the media, with some shoppers assessing much more carefully what they put into their food trolleys when they visit the fresh produce section of their local supermarket. Given the long distance that its fruit has to travel to markets where the food miles debate is at its fiercest, New Zealand's NZ 2.2bn dollar fresh fruit and vegetable business is now fighting back, with its combative agriculture minister Jim Anderton leading the charge. As part of this year's Trade NewZealand special, Mr Anderton spoke exclusively to Eurofruit Magazine. New Zealand kiwifruit exports have come under sustained attack in recent weeks in the UK press in particular for their supposed contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. You've been very robust in your defence of the trade in kiwifruit. What is your position?