gettyimages-1253850252.jpg Photo: Getty ImagesThe industry body for stone-fruit growers in New Zealand is reassuring international customers of our Covid-free status, after the virus was reportedly found on fruit packaging in China. Chinese media organisation The Global Times reported that the virus was found on the inner packaging of imported cherries in the city of Wuxi near Shanghai. Summer Fruit chief executive Richard Palmer said the Ministry for Primary Industries had not been advised by Chinese authorities that this detection is in any way connected with New Zealand fruit. "The last case of Covid-19 in the New Zealand community was on 18 November 2020, before the export summerfruit harvest started," Palmer said. He said the summerfruit industry has rigorous food safety procedures in place, including the monitoring of staff health for Covid-19.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 23, 2021 20:26 UTC