Thursday, 13 June 2024 14:25

The hunt is on for NZ's 'wonkiest' fruit

Written by  Jessica Marshall
Wonky Box co-founders Angus Simms and Katie Jackson. Wonky Box co-founders Angus Simms and Katie Jackson.

Three months after expanding nationally across New Zealand, Kiwi fresh produce subscription service Wonky Box is launching its first-ever fruit-only box.

To celebrate, the company is calling for New Zealanders to scour their Wonky Boxes, fruit bowls and gardens and submit images of their unusually shaped fruits in celebration of the launch of their fruit-only box.

Kiwi artist and photographer Adam Popovic will create a one-off photographic print inspired by the winning fruit, which will be auctioned on TradeMe along with a fruit-inspired bundle of goodies from local New Zealand brands.

All proceeds from the auction will be donated to Wonky Box charity partner, food rescue organisation KiwiHarvest.

Wonky Box co-founder Angus Simms says that after two growing seasons where growers have faced tough weather conditions now is the right time to launch a fruit-only box.

“The last two years of trading, fruit growers have had it quite tough here in New Zealand,” Simms told Rural News.

“We’ve had Cyclone Gabrielle for example and several other bad weather events hit the country… that have really set back a lot of our fruit-growing operations and so, for two to three seasons a lot of growers – whether that be avocados, apples, pears and even citrus growers in Gisborne – were really set back,” he says.

“So, we were thinking, it’s quite fitting because suddenly this particular year, or this particular season, it’s come back quite well for a lot of growers, so what we really wanted to do is we wanted to help these growers who for the last two seasons have had it tough and are about to approach a season that’s actually working out for them and just to add another channel or to be another offering for them we were thinking could be quite timely.”

The ‘Wonkiest Fruit’ competition will run until 28 June on Wonky Box’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Adam Popovic’s wonky fruit photographic print will go live on TradeMe on 5 July 2024.

The Wonky Box fruit-only box is available for subscription online now at www.wonkybox.nz

More like this

'Like being a meteorologist'

Wonky Box co-founder Katie Jackson says working in fresh produce delivery is like being a meteorologist because of the constant weather changes.

'Ugly' vegetables company on a steady path

With more Kiwis tightening their belts as necessities such as fruit and vegetables becoming harder to source at an affordable price, food delivery service Wonky Box has announced a massive expansion across the North Island.

Featured

No bird flu on second farm

Biosecurity New Zealand says test results to date from a small free-range layer chicken farm near Dunedin are negative for avian influenza.

National

NZ out of step - report

New Zealand is out of step globally in looking to put a price on agricultural emissions from food production.

Pork imports furore

Pork farmers says a significant influx of imported pork is causing them concern.

Govt limits forestry conversions

Farmers have welcomed the Government’s move designed to limit farm to forestry conversions entering the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

Machinery & Products

More front hoppers

German seeding specialists Horsch have announced a new 1600- litre double-tank option that will join its current Partner FT single…

Origin Ag clocks up 20 years

With roots dating back to 2004, Origin Ag was formed as a co-operative business model that removed the traditional distributor,…

Teat spray price drop

FIL, the animal health and dairy hygiene subsidiary of GEA Farm Technologies, is dropping the price for its chlorhexidine teat…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Loud noises!

OPINION: One of the strongest arguments for Act’s Treaty Principles Bill is probably its opponents’ total inability to raise a…

Barks like a dog

OPINION: Landcorp is putting a brave face on its latest result, highlighting its progress on KPIs like climate change and…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter