KiwiBrothersTM make their China debut
Zespri has unveiled the award-winning KiwiBrothersTM mascots in China for the first time to market its large kiwifruit crop.
Zespri chief executive Dan Mathieson says when he was at a food fair in Germany recently, buyers of NZ kiwifruit raised the issue of quality with him.
He says they told him the quality of fruit last season was not up to the high NZ standard they expected and were seeking assurances that there would be an improvement in 2023. Mathieson says the message from them was that there was enormous growth potential if the quality was up to standard.
"I was able to give them an assurance that it would be and that NZ kiwifruit industry right along the supply chain is working to ensure that this happens."
Mathieson says the industry is confident it can improve quality this year and points to several factors that will drive this. He says for a start, there are more people, including backpackers available to pick the fruit so it won't be a hurried pick as was the case last year. He says the pickers are better trained and growers themselves and others along the supply chain will be closely monitoring how the fruit is handled to ensure it's not damaged.
He adds that they will be paying close attention right through to the market on the issue of fruit handling.
"We know if we can get the quality issue resolved there is so much opportunity for us to sell at great value around the world and at the top end of the market."
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.
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