Zespri hits major milestone
Kiwifruit marketer Zespri says its kiwifruit has now reached more than 100 million households globally.
For one Bay of Plenty kiwifruit grower, the 2014 season saw just a single tray of fruit loss thanks to the exceptional packing and management of local operator, DMS.
John Cook's Te Puke orchards produce a total of 82,000 trays of Hayward and G14, with all but one tray making it to export last season, his inaugural season packing with DMS.
"It's a dream result and I'm really impressed, " says Cook.
"In the past my fruit loss has been well below the industry average, but last season saw one tray total fruit loss, with a good volume of fruit carried to the very end of the storage programme. It takes good quality fruit and exceptional inventory management to end up with a result like that."
Cook is expecting similar volumes in the coming season, along with close to 30,000 trays of G3 as the first crop off three hectares that have been non-producing for the past four years during the Psa recovery.
Having been in the kiwifruit industry for the past 35 years, Cook has been through its many ups and downs and believes that having survived the Psa outbreak the biggest issue currently facing the industry is the need to future proof. That includes human resourcing at an orchard and post-harvest level, as well as at industry leadership level.
"The sector has shown incredible resilience and the recent challenges have united the industry in a way which will become a hallmark of its resurrection," he says.
According to Cook, innovation will play a huge role in driving the industry forward and for him DMS fits that role.
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Education union NZEI Te Riu Roa says that while educators will support the Government’s investment in learning support, they’re likely to be disappointed that it has been paid for by defunding expert teachers.
The Government says it is sharpening its focus and support for the food and fibre industry in Budget 2025.
A European Union regulation ensuring that the products its citizens consume do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation worldwide threatens $200m of New Zealand beef and leather exports.
A long-acting, controlled- release capsule designed to protect ewes from internal parasites during the lambing period is back on the market following a comprehensive reassessment.
Healthcare appears to be the big winner in this year's budget as agriculture and environment miss out.
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