116 | End-to-end service SCH works closely with kiwifruit growers and landowners to provide an end-to-end service in orchard development. T T from page 114 Southern Cross Horticulture PRODUCTION drive the company’s mission, purpose and values. “We are eager to support and grow passionate people who are driven to bring their best self everyday.” Reflecting on his own journey of progression with SCH since 2021, Josh finds much to admire about the company and the Dunstan family’s business ethos. “They have always been focussed on achieving that next one percent of excellence – and are really passionate about enhancing the lives of our team, customers and community. The business has grown organically from strength to strength as a result of their culture of excellence and trust.” Backed by decades of industry experience, SCH faces a confident future with a team that continues to set a high bar on quality and on creating world class, resilient orchards that produce top quartile crops. “We have seven partnerships and are in the process of closing our eighth, Aurora Gold. This one is unique to our previous partnerships as it also has a green haywood orchard that has been cut over to SunGold. We will be harvesting out first crop this season – targeting over 14,000 trays per hectare - in March 2025.” With over a hectare of greenhouses, SCH grows some 200,000 quality plants a year. “We believe they provide growers with the best platform for establishing an early crop and replacing an underperforming plant.” Their focus today is very much on the SunGold and RubyRed varieties. Along with SunGold, SCH has around 50 hectares of RubyRed under their management. The company employs around 100 in their permanent team as well as a seasonal team that can fluctuate between 80 and 300 people depending on seasonal workloads. “We started our own internal labour force in response to Covid,” observes Josh. “It became too risky to rely on the market for all our labour needs during time critical tasks. This year, we have found it easy to get the labour needed for the harvest season.” Josh notes that this year’s harvest conditions were the best in 20 years, producing a bumper harvest volume that was 40% higher than the previous year. “We barely felt rain at all in harvest – it was magic.” Within their young and growing team, SCH is working hard to train, mentor and develop the next generation so they can continue to Providing the Matamata and Waikato regions with premium drilling, drainage and digging services for over 40 years. 13 Elizabeth St 07 888 5724 admin@griffithsltd.co.nz AndrewGarner DIRECTOR Spreading Engineering Transport Mobile: 0275 255 738 Email: andrew@allsetltd.co.nz 5676 Spreading – fertiliser and compost (Broadcast, Band and/or Spot Application Engineering – general, heavy transport andmachining Transport – machinery and kiwifruit cartage AndrewGarner | Director 0275 255 738 andrew@allsetltd.co.nz Amy Garner | Director 021 256 3849 o ce@allsetltd.co.nz Proudly Supporting Southern Cross Horticulture 5676
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