Fonterra upgrades Eltham cheese production for global growth
Fonterra's Eltham site in Taranaki is stepping up its global impact with an upgrade to its processed cheese production lines, boosting capacity to meet growing international demand.
Feeding more than 1.5 million people a week takes more than quick service, it takes the ongoing work of New Zealand farmers and producers, according to McDonalds.
The fast-food trader’s annual New Zealand shopping list is out, offering a look at just how much local produce goes into the menu.
With 90% of ingredients sourced locally, McDonald’s spent $235 million on domestic produce in 2024, while a further $287 million of Kiwi ingredients was exported to McDonald’s restaurants around the world.
The company bought more than 6.5 million litres of milk, sourced from dairy farmers from all around NZ through Fonterra. Over 1,051 tonnes of cheese and other dairy products were produced by Fonterra for local restaurants.
“There are so many New Zealanders who come together to bring our menu to life,” says Kylie Freeland, managing director NZ and Pacific Islands.
“Our favourites are served in minutes, but each ingredient reflects months, even years, of local growing, farming, and careful preparation. It’s a story of dedication and collaboration long before the food reaches the tray.”
Kiwi produce is so good that Macca’s also exported over $287 million worth of local ingredients to McDonald’s markets worldwide. This included 265,600kg of cheese.
Red meat exports to key quota markets enjoyed $1.4 billion in tariff savings in the 2024-25 financial year.
Remediation NZ (RNZ) has been fined more than $71,000 for discharging offensive odours described by neighbours as smelling like ‘faecal and pig effluent’ from its compositing site near Uruti in North Taranaki.
Two kiwifruit orchards in the Bay of Plenty and one in Northland are this year's finalists for the Ahuwhenua Trophy competition.
The Government's chief science advisor, Dr John Roche says the key objective for the science sector in the coming year is bedding down the reforms which sees the merger of the previous entities.
Hawke's Bay apple grower Taylor Corporation says a standout 2026 season, coming after a few difficult years, is boosting optimism among growers.
Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) has added its perspective to numerous primary sector voices urging the Government to strengthen its draft legislation to replace the Resource Management Act (RMA).