Mr Apple has moved to acquire a 50 per cent shareholding in fellow New Zealand agricultural organisation Fern Ridge, according to reports in the country.
Voxy.co.nz revealed that the two companies saw it is an opportunity for collaboration in international markets, with Fern Ridge Produce executive chairman Sam Newbigin explaining that the companies would continue to export under separate brands and would not compete for the same markets.
'Together we will increase our focus on current key customers and strategically approach new markets to ensure we obtain the maximum return and coverage from the fruit supplied,' he noted.
Fern Ridge Produce managing director Hamish Davis told the publication that growers had beenasking for more consolidation of apple exporters to help maximise returns from the market, while Mr Apple general manager Andrew Van Workum said negotiations between the companies had taken more than six months to work through.
'This is a significant investment by the owners of Mr Apple,' said van Workham. 'It shows our confidence that through this collaboration we believe we will see better prices returned to the grower suppliers of both companies and ourown orchards.
'Mr Apple Directors also believe that apple exporter consolidation and coordination will assist the industry,' he added.
Fern Ridge has been supplying fresh produce since 1997 from its Hawke’s Bay base, offering products such as apples, pears, citrus, carrots and onions.
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