20 | Wānaka: Hortinvest REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT T T Ange Davidson Central Otago cherry ripe for fruit Hortinvest Management Directors, Ross and Sharon Kirk have a background in horticulture management and marketing. The hills around Tarras in Central Otago are home to some of the world’s best cherries, grown at elevation to escape frosts at the crucial growing stage between flowering and harvest. Driving the development of cherry and apricot orchards in the Tarras area is Hortinvest, a Wānaka based company that manages the entire orcharding process on private land, from initial planning and development through to harvest, marketing and logistics. Hortinvest Management Directors, Ross and Sharon Kirk have a background in horticulture management and marketing and have been helping farmers diversify into horticulture since 2016. Landowners looking to do more with their land become shareholders with Hortinvest who will then form the company to raise capital through investors to develop the land into horticulture. Orchards recently developed by Hortinvest at Mt Pisa near Cromwell, Lindis Peaks Tarras and Ardgour Valley Tarras are collectively producing a significant amount of fruit with approximately 180 hectares in cherries and 25 hectares in apricots. Limited Partnership companies, Deep Fruits New Zealand and Ardgour Valley Orchards own the orchards while Ross and Sharon take care of all other aspects of the cherry and apricot supply chain including staff and investors. “Our investors really enjoy being involved in something very special in Central Otago. We encourage investors to come and visit during the summer and we keep them well informed with what’s happening throughout the seasons,” says Sharon. “We organise all the staff, so we work with a lot of people! We’re an accredited employer and can employ people under the accredited work visa scheme and employ staff from the Philippines as well as kiwis and travellers. “During the season we hire around 200 staff with at least 30 people working in our packhouse.” The Kirk’s managed the build of a large modern packhouse in Tarras for Lindis Coolpac LP to process the fruit in 2022. To help attract summer staff, there is a suite of accommodation facilities as part of the packhouse that include an extensive kitchen and bathroom block, a large dining area and laundry facilities. “Our set up is unique and it gives people a much better work experience. Accommodation is an issue and at present we are renting houses near Cromwell and in Wanaka for our staff who are putting up bird netting and pruning,” she says. “We organise all the staff, so we work with a lot of people! We’re an accredited employer and can employ people under the accredited work visa scheme and employ staff from the Philippines as well as kiwis and travellers.” Like all industries that rely on seasonal labour, the orchards struggled during Covid. To ease the situation, Hortinvest provided staff transport to work and continue to do so. Investing in modern technology helps reduce staffing numbers such as the new packhouse which is outfitted with the latest food-grade technologies. The fruit remains handpicked which requires plenty of people power. The orchards managed by Hortinvest all sit above 280 metres from sea level to reduce potential frost although there are automated frost fans in place. The cooler and longer growing season is what creates the extraordinary fruit quality that is synonymous with Central Otago stone fruit. “While we grow some pre-Christmas cherries, our fruit is best known for its longer growing season and we focus on the international market to provide cherries for the Chinese New Year and Valentines Day. “Cherries are sold through Deep Fruit NZ marketing entity Southern Fruits International LP. “They are beautifully packaged and are marketed under the brand name Beyond, which conjures up unlimited possibilities. “Right now, we’re looking for a name for new varieties of apricots that we’re growing at Ardgour Valley Orchard in Tarras that were breed by Plant and Food Research in conjunction with Summerfruit NZ at the Clyde Research Station. “People say these new varieties taste how apricots used to, and we want a name that reflects how incredibly sweet and juicy the fruit is,” she says. “It’s an exciting industry to be in. “We’re very fortunate to have great stakeholders, board members and staff, and of course, customers.” Proud to be part of the team delivering Hortinvest’s Tarras Packhouse. • NEWBUILDS • SECOND HAND • 10, 20 & 40 FOOT • SALES & LEASING 45 Washdyke Flat Road, Timaru 7910 | P. 03 684 4822 E. sales@heartlandcontainers.co.nz | www.heartlandcontainers.co.nz WE GUARANTEE ALL OUR CONTAINERS ARE WIND &WATER TIGHT!
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