58 | HORTICULTURE RJ Flowers Orchard T T Sue Russell Products dispatched six days a week RSE accommodation village. Though the memory of the COVID years is quickly dimming for many of us, some businesses, such as those considered essential services, still recall the frenzy of activity required in order to carry on operating. Such is the case with Hawkes Bay orchardists R J Flowers Orchard, a family business part-owned and operated by John and Wendy Evans. When Business Central caught up with John, 5 ½ years had passed since our last conversation back in 2019, so there was plenty to catch up on, including whether the then planned RSE accommodation block project came to fruition. “Yes, we got all our accommodation in place and that project went well. That was in response to the Government then requiring orchardists and the like to supply their own accommodation to their RSE workers. By the end of 2020 we had our consent all signed off,” John says. The priority through the COVID lockdowns was, as always, to keep staff safe and well, which required the introduction of some new processing systems, however John says the disruption was minimal as they had done their due diligence to ensure staff working throughout were never vulnerable. R J Flowers Orchards grows green and gold kiwifruit for Zespri, pears and apples, the latter of which are supplied to T & G Global, while a small portion of pears are still grown for Watties with the balance predominantly sold to North Island customers, such as Food Stuffs and more recently Cosco in Auckland. “We also supply food distribution networks such as Food in Schools, so we’re not short of destinations where our fruit is available.” Apples are very popular in Asia and the varieties of choice are Jazz and Envy. Products are dispatched six days a week from the packhouse’s state of the art controlled atmosphere cool stalls. 06 281 2487 021 510 338 paulmc@activerefrig.co.nz 104 Henderson Road Hastings 4175 New Zealand • Industrial refrigeration specialists • Refrigeration design and installation • Air conditioning design and installation • Project management Copeland Ashcroft Workplace Lawyers provide specialist advice, representation and support across employment, immigration and health and safety law to businesses throughout New Zealand. We knowwhat works, and we partner with you to achieve the results you want so you can get on with business. MyriamMitchell | Partner Specialists in employment, immigration and health and safety law www.copelandashcroft.co.nz 06 872 9248 Hastings: Building A, Level 1, Farming House, 211 Market Street South employment health & safety immigration www.awakeridrainage.co.nz | 06 878 7567 | sales@awakeri.co.nz Your Local, Dependable Rural Contractor • FORESTRY ROADING • DRAINAGE • EARTHMOVING RECYCLING • ORCHARD • AGGREGATES • CARTAGE Proud to support RJ Flowers Orchard KIWIFRUIT DRAINAGE SERVICES PH 06 879 6238 WWW.AQUALINECONTRACTORS.CO.NZ
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