Zespri Green kiwifruit

New Zealand kiwifruit post-harvest operator EastPack is planning further infrastructure and processing investments in a bid to grow its volumes and capacity by a further 10 per cent in 2010, following a successful 2009 season.

“We are in a good position to push forward with our expansion plans and intend to invest around another NZ$7.5m in the next year,” said CEO Tony Hawken. “We see quality and profitability as inextricably linked.”

EastPack supplied marketer Zespri with 10m trays of Green kiwifruit and 6.2m trays of Gold this season, 500,000 trays more than 2008.

“We are pleased that we can demonstrate that we are continuing to improve our quality of service. Last year we delivered a creditable lift in earnings and profitability to our grower investors and upper quartile orchard gate returns to grower suppliers,” Mr Hawken said.

He said EastPack was also buoyed by Zespri indications of very promising 2009 season returns for Gold kiwifruit and fairly solid returns for Green kiwifruit, although he acknowledged that some Green growers were under duress with rising costs and the impact of hail damage on their crop.