New mural celebrates Hastings' rural past
The old Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Co-op Association garage in Hastings has become home to a new mural celebrating the activities that happened in the building.
A company credited for revolutionising the apple industry by creating a market for fruit that used to be "mopped up as rubbish" has turned 50.
Johnny Appleseed's managing director, John Paynter says ENZAFOODS innovation has meant growers can prosper because they've created a growing market for second grade fruit that can't be exported.
"ENZAFOODS is a world leader in the international juicing market and should be congratulated on 50 successful years in business. It has revolutionised the apple industry by creating a market for fruit that used to be mopped up as rubbish," he says.
ENZAFOODS, New Zealand's largest apple processing company, has marked its 50th birthday by opening a $4 million processing line in Hastings.
The new $4 million line at, purpose built to produce premium fruit products, and will create up to 30 new jobs bringing the workforce to over 150 during the season.
ENZAFOODS is now injecting an estimated $40 million into the economies of Hawke's Bay and Nelson and providing more profitable contracts to growers for second grade fruit.
General manager Jon Marks says by pureeing and dicing apples, the company has created huge demand for premium fruit products under the FreshFields brand and is delivering profits back to growers.
"We've enjoyed tremendous growth, development and innovation, strengthening New Zealand's international reputation as a premium processor of both fruit and vegetables."
This year Enzafoods will process 110,000 tonnes of apples, pears, carrots, berries, kiwifruit and feijoas into juices, juice concentrates, purees and diced and sliced products, supplied into industrial, food service, hospitality and retail markets in New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia and the USA.
Economist Shamubeel Eaqub is warning that inequality between countries has fallen markedly over the past 200 years but inequality and political polarisation within countries was on the rise.
New Zealand's red meat sector is looking at exporting more than sheepmeat products to India when a comprehensive free trade agreement is secured between the two countries.
ASB's new head of food and fibre, Kristen Ashby, believes that there’s “heaps of opportunity” in the agriculture sector.
Fonterra farmers are pleased with their co-operative's interim results, says Co-operative Council chair John Stevenson.
Farmgate milk price could stay above $10/kgMS for two consecutive seasons, however, Fonterra is cautioning farmer shareholders to be wary.
Be ready to be nimble. That's the message to New Zealand primary exporters from international trade expert, company director and farmer Mike Petersen.