European growers strengthen Zespri’s year-round kiwifruit supply strategy
European growers are playing a key role in ensuring Kiwifruit marketer Zespri has year-round supply of high-quality fruit for consumers.
Zespri last week officially opened its Mount Maunganui head office as part of the kiwifruit industry’s marquee Momentum 2020 conference.
With phase one of the new building complex completed in April 2019, phase two has seen the completion of a new meeting wing featuring an additional 486m2 space, five meeting rooms and a demonstration kitchen. The building project saw Zespri work with a range of construction partners including Beca, Hawkins, Rider Levett Bucknall and Warren and Mahoney.
The office was officially opened by Minister of Agriculture, Hon Damien O’Connor, with four previous Zespri Chairmen - Craig Greenlees, Peter McBride, John Palmer and Doug Voss – cutting a commemorative ribbon in front of around 500 growers, Zespri customers, representatives from NZKGI, KVH and the post-harvest sector.
Zespri Chair Bruce Cameron said the completion of the complex represented a significant milestone for the kiwifruit industry.
“We’re very proud of our story and the contributions our industry has been able to make to growers and our local communities.
“This building was always designed to be a hub for the industry and to celebrate its completion with so many of our industry stalwarts and customers during Momentum 2020 is a fitting way for us to start what we hope will be another successful year for our industry.
“With the building’s completion and our recent brand refresh, Zespri now has an excellent platform for its next phase of growth which we hope will enable us to create continued strong returns for our growers and help people, communities and the environment around the world thrive through the goodness of kiwifruit.”
Farmers' health and wellbeing will take centre stage with a new hub at the 2026 East Coast Farming Expo.
Dannevirke farmer Dan Billing has been announced as the new national chair of Beef + Lamb New Zealand's (B+LNZ) Farmer Council.
A Mid Canterbury beef farm has unlocked a new market for its products thanks to its unusual beef breed, and an award-winning pie taking the district by storm.
The number of beef straws going into dairy cows is on the increase, according to LIC beef genetics product lead Paul Charteris.
OPINION: Farmers along the east coast of both islands are being urged to start planning for drought as recent nor'west winds have left soil moisture levels depleted.
European growers are playing a key role in ensuring Kiwifruit marketer Zespri has year-round supply of high-quality fruit for consumers.

OPINION: Winston Peters has described the decision to sell its brand to Lactalis and disperse the profit to its farmer…
OPINION: The Hound reckons a big problem with focusing too much on the wrong goal - reducing livestock emissions at…