Biosecurity New Zealand has placed restrictions on importing tomato seeds from Australia after a harmful virus was discovered at two South Australian farms.
The tomato brown rugose fruit virus affects tomatoes, capsicums, and chillies, causing damage to the plants, but it does not harm humans. This virus, which was first found in the Middle East, has never been detected in New Zealand.
Although New Zealand currently imports tomatoes only from Queensland, Australia, Biosecurity New Zealand is taking extra precautions. All imported seeds from Australia must now be tested for the virus before entering the country. Additionally, tomato imports from all Australian states except Queensland have been temporarily suspended.
Stuart Anderson, Biosecurity New Zealand’s deputy director general, urged growers to stay alert and report any unusual problems with their tomatoes to the pests and diseases hotline.
Barry O’Neil, chairperson of TomatoesNZ, expressed concerns about the severe impact the virus could have on New Zealand’s tomato and capsicum industries, warning that it could lead to significant crop losses. He emphasised the importance of keeping the virus out of the country and advised growers to maintain strict hygiene practices to protect their farms.
very interesting
I loved reading it because, I never knew that maybe chocolate might be gone in the future!
save the chocolate…
I enjoyed this reading because
it show what climate changes does!!
they might have to move most chocolate into a colder place, since the climate clock is getting low
so temperature might get higher.
i love chocolate
I’m allergic to dairy, but this makes me sad for my best friends all around NZ (don’t think it’s weird because I actually do). And my chocolate loving cousin, her name is Dana (I’m from South Korea and she told me how to spell her name in Korean but its not pronounced like Dana).
I know that there are chocolate lovers around the world so, poor them or if you like chocolate poor you (even though I’m allergic to dairy, or to make it easy dairy products: cheese, milk, butter etc).