Monday, 12 January 2015 12:23

‘Dream’ fruit losses result for grower

Written by 
Kiwifruit grower John Cook Kiwifruit grower John Cook

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.

More like this

Featured

NZEI unhappy with funding cut for teachers

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.

EU regulations unfairly threaten $200m exports

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.

Bionic Plus back on vet clinic shelves

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.

National

Machinery & Products

New Holland combines crack 50 years

New Holland is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the introduction its Twin Rotor threshing and separation technology, which has evolved…

Iconic TPW Woolpress turns 50!

The company behind the iconic TPW Woolpress, which fundamentally changed the way wool is baled in Australia and New Zealand,…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Double standards

OPINION: Imagine if the Hound had called the Minister of Finance the 'c-word' and accused her of "girl math".

Debt monster

OPINION: It's good news that Finance Minister Nicola Willis has slashed $1.1 billion from new spending, citing "a seismic global…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter