New Zealand grower-exporter Golden Bay Fruit has reached a significant milestone towards the end of this year's export campaign by packing more than a million cartons of fresh apples in one season for the first time.
The company, which exports the majority of its apples to customers around the world, recently welcomed two additional growers – Ashton Wood and Don Urquhart – to its network
Both located in Motueka, near Nelson on the country's South Island, the two joined Heywood Orchards and Birdhurst Orchards as suppliers to the Golden Bay marketing company, pushing its overall marketed volume up from 700,000 tray carton equivalents (TCE) in 2012 to a final total of 1.05m TCE this year.
Staff at Golden Bay marked the millionth carton's departure with the shipment of a specially commissioned golden box from its packhouse in Motueka.
'This is a phenomenal achievement for everyone at Golden Bay and a testament to the hard work and dedication put in by everyone here as well as the growers we work with,' commented Heath Wilkins, Golden Bay's managing director.
Over the past decade, the company has developed production of new varieties including Jazz, Royal Gala, Fuji, Pink Lady and Envy, while also expanding its output of export-grade kiwifruit for sale through Zespri.
The company recently completed a strategic review of its business and, according to Wilkins, now wants to extend the Golden Bay brand into other value-added apple products such as cider and 'healthy options'.
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