Based in the Bay of Plenty, where around 80% of the country’s kiwifruit is produced, Zespri is the world’s largest marketer of kiwifruit.
One hundred percent owned by current and former kiwifruit growers, the company works with around 2,800 New Zealand and 1,500 international growers and post-harvest companies to source the best-quality Zespri Kiwifruit which is provides to more than 50 countries worldwide.
Recent growth within the industry has seen it become a major employer, with around 25,000 jobs provided during peak season throughout the supply chain. This includes roles picking and packing the crop, overseeing the storage and shipping of fruit, and ensuring the industry continues to be well served in terms of biosecurity, innovation, marketing, food safety and sustainability.
This season’s harvest has been like no other, but despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, Zespri and the wider kiwifruit industry have continued to adopt a collaborative approach with the welfare of our people and communities at the centre, to ensure that as an essential service, this season’s fruit has been safely picked, packed and shipped.
Zespri’s Head of Communications and External Relations Michael Fox says the industry’s success this season could not have been achieved if it weren’t for the local community.
“We’re incredibly thankful for the support we’ve received from across New Zealand this season, and of course from those in the Bay of Plenty,” says Mr Fox.
“This season’s harvest reflected a huge effort across the industry to pick and pack the 2020 season crop in record time and we appreciate the support we had in order to continue to operate during New Zealand’s COVID-19 response.
“We were really proud to provide jobs to locals who had lost their roles in the hospitality and tourism sectors as a result of the impact of COVID-19 and to have helped deliver such strong returns to growers and communities around New Zealand.”
This has helped Zespri make strong progress delivering on its purpose of helping people, communities and the environment around the world thrive through the goodness of kiwifruit.
And in recognition of the challenges many are facing, Zespri is donating 100 tonnes of nutritious Zespri Kiwifruit to food rescue and charity organisations across the Bay of Plenty and New Zealand this season.
This is alongside the ongoing assistance provided to local community groups such as Surf Live Saving New Zealand, the Otānewainuku Kiwi Trust, Good Neighbour, and Youth Search and Rescue, who all do incredible work in the wider community, and for communities around the world.
“This is one way we can say thanks for the continued support of the kiwifruit industry and it’s an acknowledgement that as we grow, so too must the contribution we make to our communities,” says Mr Fox.
“We’re really proud to be based in the Bay of Plenty, and to be surrounded by thousands of businesses who take pride in the high-quality goods and services they share, and who are contributing to the overall success of one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing regions.
Zespri is looking forward to celebrating the successes of local Bay of Plenty businesses at the 2020 Westpac Tauranga Business Awards, including nominees for the Customer Experience Award, which recognises businesses who show consistent dedication to both outstanding service, and commitment to their service policy.
