The lifting of the injunction preventing New Zealand apple and pear growers being granted independent export permits for 2.4 million cartons of fruit this season has led to the resignation of Enza's chief executive David Geor. The Enza board said it would not appeal against the High Court's decision to lift the interim injunction which it had won a fortnight earlier. Chairman Tony Gibbs said this was in the interests of industry unity. Enza has said it believes some independent exporters could be complementary to its own export role. But it had objected to the permits because it said there would be times when fruit would compete head to head, leading to a loss of market value and lower grower returns. The final position will not be known until the export permits committee completes its process. {{FRESH PRODUCE }}

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