A new bagging system has the potential to improve the storage quality of green kiwifruit and increase grower returns, according to New Zealand’s Sun Media.
Developed by New Zealand post-harvest operators Apata, a removable cover has been fitted to picking bags, meaning pickers will have to place fruit into the bag, instead of dropping it in, reducing the risk of tissue damage.
“I got the idea from very successful South Auckland grower Carlos Verissimo who was frustrated about the way his fruit was being handled and put a strip of canvass over the top, narrowing the opening,so pickers could no longer ‘rain down’ fruit into the bags,” Apata managing director Stuart Weston told Sun Media.
Weston said his company has been seeking ways to help improve fruit quality, especially of fruit that stays in storage for a long time.
“Twenty years ago green kiwifruit were incredibly tough and we treated them like bullets,” he explained.
“However, back then growers were producing only 4000 trays a hectare.
“Now that’s increased to up to 13,000 and the vines are under much more stress, affecting the cellular structure of fruit so it’s much more fragile.”
Weston said growers have been forced to pay more attention to fruit handling since Zespri introduced further transparency and demand for accountability in fruit performance offshore.
“I totally agree that Zespri should sheet home the costs where they belong,” he said.
“Reducing repacking and fruit loss offshore begins at the orchard.
“If we can improve the quality of the fruit as it’s picked and ensure we handle it well throughout the post-harvest supply chain, then we will reduce costs and improve grower returns.”
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