28 | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT - SOUTH CANTERBURY Silver Fern Farms Pareora Rich history behind Pareora plant to page 30 Sitting on the blade of the Pacific coastline, 16 kilometres south of Timaru, Silver Fern Farm’s Pareora plant’s rich history spans 117 years during which it has loyally served the region’s rural sector. Originally built for the Canterbury Frozen Meat Co Ltd to process sheep and lamb, it has evolved from the bones of a plant to now encompass a 16.5-hectare footprint, along with a neighbouring 386-hectare farm. In 1986 the plant was taken over by the giant meat processing co-operative PPCS that went on to re-brand as Silver Fern Farms Ltd in 2008. Richard Loader During those 117 years a number of key milestones punctuated the company’s development including adding a beef processing plant in 1960 and an upgrade to all processing areas a decade later. In the ‘80s additional coldstores and a pallet store were added, significantly adding to the coldstore footprint. “The coldstores are where we blast freeze and sort product and the pallet store is where we hold a lot of the product awaiting transport,” says Site Manager Bruce McNaught. “We’re fortunate that we have a rail line that runs right past the coldstores and so we have the option of road or rail for freight out to the markets.” “We’re fortunate that we have a rail line that runs right past the coldstores and so we have the option of road or rail for freight out to the markets.” In 2008 Pareora migrated to land based wastewater disposal that is used to irrigate 100 hectares of the company’s neighbouring farmland using pivot and K-Line irrigators. “We also take the solid waste from the plant and operate our own compost system. In 2014 we closed our rendering process, which is now handled by a third party and in 2016 we transferred our blood processing to a third party. “That same year Silver Fern Farms shifted its venison processing from Islington Freezing Works to Pareora. Canterbury’s Belfast Coolstores were also closed down with the blast cabinets transferred to this site, increasing our blast capacity.” Proud suppliers to Silver Fern Farms Pareora For Bulk and Bulk Liquid Transportation The Cartage Experts in the South Ph 0800 800 594 • marshalltransport.co.nz Need to transport animal products with a registered transport service under the RCS scheme? Contact us today to see what our experienced team can do for you. pli oS
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=