EastPack, a post-harvest operator in New Zealand, has marked a new achievement by packing 50 million trays of kiwifruit within a single season, a first for the industry in the country. This accomplishment was realized last week at the company's Quarry Rd facility in Te Puke, utilizing a fully automated grader. The significant tray was packed using kiwifruit cultivated by Seth and Fleur Pardoe, in collaboration with Prospa Orchard Management.
Chief Executive Hamish Simson highlighted the team effort behind this success, emphasizing the role of staff across EastPack's six plants in reaching this milestone. Celebrations were held to acknowledge their contributions, with Simson noting, "It's the people sitting around those tables, it's their hard work that's produced." He also recognized the vital support from growers, attributing part of the success to the high-quality crop produced this season.
The 50 millionth tray's kiwifruit was stored in a controlled atmosphere (CA) store at Quarry Rd, employing advanced technology to maintain the fruit's quality by reducing oxygen levels. This process, as Simson explains, puts the kiwifruit into a state of dormancy, extending the packing season and providing benefits to both the workforce and growers through enhanced storage potential and operational efficiency.
Source: nzherald.co.nz