PACKING

All products sourced from the Gisborne region are packed on-site at NZ Fruits Ltd. Located on the outskirts of the city this stand-alone, multi-crop post-harvest facility operates 12 months of the year. As each others biggest customers and with some common shareholding First Fresh and NZ Fruits enjoy a unique relationship that is high on co-operation and competitiveness whilst at the same time maintaining an appropriate level of commercial ‘friction’.

NZ Fruits is Gisborne’s leading post harvest facility. It prides itself on its ability to pack a wide range of crops 12 months of the year. It operates 4, 2 and 1-lane Compac grading lines. In-line non destructive NIR grading is available for products such as Satsuma Mandarins. NZ Fruits also provides forced air pre-cooling, CA and conventional coolstorage and dedicated citrus de-greening facilities. A large pre-packing facility for domestic supply rounds out this comprehensive facility.

NZ Fruits is a BNZ Export Certified, BRC and NZGAP approved post-harvest facility and offers a HACCP based system that provides a high level product traceability and quality assurance.

Products sourced from outside the Gisborne region, are in the main procured from grower-packer operations. In many cases these facilities are also NZGAP approved and/or BNZ Export Certified.

The First Fresh office is located on-site at NZ Fruits.

FIELD SERVICES

First Fresh offers Gisborne growers a comprehensive field service program that covers all aspects of orchard management and practice. The aim of this service, most of which is provided free of charge is to provide growers with the tools and knowledge to grow fruit that meets market expectations for quality, taste and safety. All programs are based on ‘best practice’ principals and follow IFP protocols.

During the course of the season First Fresh co-ordinates and runs several grower workshops and field days. These can be practical and/or theoritcal and cover the full spectrum of on-orchard activities. In many cases these are timed to coincide with the commencement of a harvesting season or other major on-orchard activity such as pruning.

First Fresh also undertakes R&D both on contract to NZCGI and for it’s on use. This work is invaluable in tailoring new regimes or practices to suit local conditions.

First Fresh has established active trials sites at a number of commercial orchards that will be used for new variety assessment as well as trials of new growing techniques and/or crop improvement programs.

Pre-season evaluation of maturity prior to harvest is vital for a number crops but especially citrus. First Fresh arranges sample collection and independent testing on behalf of all growers. This service is provided free of charge. Results are recorded and added to a database of previous results providing season on season analysis and the ability to see trends within specific varieties and orchards

CHARGEABLE SERVICES

Crop Monitoring
Already in it’s 5th year the First Fresh crop monitoring program is regarded as the most comprehensive in the district. Crop monitoring scouts visit client orchards and undertake a weekly or fortnightly assessment of a number of trees looking for insect and disease activity. Field results are compared against district thresholds to determine what action if any is required by the grower.

Soil and Leaf Tests
Vital annual tools in any orchard. First Fresh co-ordintaes the collection of leaf and soil samples and provides clients with advice based on the results.

Sprayer Calibrations
First Fresh can provide growers with on-orchard assessment and calibration of their spray equipment. A vital requirement to ensuring adequate and cost effective spray coverage.