Eight years at the helm of TomatoesNZ recognised with Lifetime Achievement Award

At the recent Covered Cropping NZ Conference and TomatoesNZ AGM, Barry O’Neil was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to TomatoesNZ and the wider covered cropping industry.

The award also marked the end of an eight-year chapter, with Barry stepping down after eight years as Chair of the TomatoesNZ Board.

Eight years is a significant commitment to any industry organisation, and Barry has certainly been there through some interesting times.

During his tenure, the industry has faced significant biosecurity threats, including PepMV and the threat of ToBRFV, labour shortages, rising production costs, energy challenges, regulatory change and increasing pressure on the viability of growing tomatoes in New Zealand.

Through all of this, Barry provided steady and considered leadership, ensuring that the interests of growers remained firmly on the agenda.

One of Barry’s strengths was his ability to see the bigger picture while still paying attention to the detail.

Having sat around the TomatoesNZ Board table with Barry, I can say that he ran a fantastic meeting. He was always organised and on time, kept everyone on task and made sure discussions didn’t wander too far off course.

He was also pretty good at making sure nobody fell asleep!

But the humour aside, Barry’s attention to detail was one of his real strengths. He was brilliant at picking up on the finer points that could easily be missed. He would ask the extra question, challenge something that didn’t quite stack up and make sure the Board had properly considered an issue before moving forward.

That made him an excellent Chair and gave the Board confidence that decisions were being made carefully and with the detail properly understood.

Bringing covered crops together

One of the most significant developments during Barry’s time as Chair has been the move towards greater collaboration across the protected cropping sector.

For several years there had been discussion about bringing TomatoesNZ and Vegetables NZ closer together. The reason was straightforward: many growers are producing more than one crop, and the challenges facing tomatoes, cucumbers, capsicums, eggplants and chillies are often remarkably similar.

That work has now resulted in Covered Cropping NZ, a joint approach between TomatoesNZ and Vegetables NZ to represent the interests of these five covered crops.

It is an important step for the industry, creating opportunities for greater collaboration, shared resources and a stronger collective voice.

Barry has played an important part in that journey and leaves the organisation at a time when the sector is entering an exciting new chapter.

Standing up for growers

Barry has also never been afraid to stand up for growers.

During the PepMV outbreak, he played an important role in communications with MPI on behalf of the industry. TomatoesNZ specifically acknowledged Barry’s leadership during that difficult period.

He has also spoken publicly about the very real pressures facing tomato growers, including rising production costs, labour shortages and the difficulty of competing when imported produce puts pressure on returns.

These are not always easy messages to deliver, particularly when representing an industry that is already under scrutiny. Barry did so in a measured and professional manner.

A genuine thank you

Barry’s response to receiving the award was typical of the man. He said he was “very humbled but delighted” to receive the TomatoesNZ achievement award and described his eight years chairing the TomatoesNZ and now Covered Cropping NZ boards as both a “pleasure and privilege”.

He also took the time to read the many messages from colleagues and growers in a farewell book, describing them as very special.

I think that says a lot about Barry. He understood that governance is ultimately about people — the growers, businesses and individuals who make up an industry.

On behalf of those of us who have had the privilege of working with Barry, thank you.

Thank you for eight years of commitment, leadership and good humour. Thank you for keeping the Board on track, for asking the difficult questions and, importantly, for paying attention to the finer details.

And thank you for helping guide TomatoesNZ through a period of enormous change and towards a more collaborative future for covered cropping.

Barry may have stepped down as Chair, but his contribution will remain part of the industry’s history.

Congratulations Barry on a very well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award — and thank you for everything you have done for TomatoesNZ and New Zealand’s covered cropping industry.

We hope you won’t be too far away!

Barry receiving his caricature of the TomatoesNZ Board from Dinah Cohen, General Manager of TomatoesNZ.

Barry recieving his TomatoesNZ Lifetime Achievement award from incoming Chairman, Simon Watson, Managing Director of NZ Hot House Limied