46 | REGIONAL Thomas Bros Orchards Proud to support Thomas Bros Ltd Leaders in horticultural irrigation design, installation & supply Proud supporters of Thomas Bros www.cwsnz.co.nz 03 5280040 admin@cwsnz.co.nz T T Russell Fredric Six generations of growing in Riwaka The multi-generational family business combines orchard production with packing, grading, cool storage and export programmes. Thomas Bros Orchards is a substantial integrated fruit business, with more than 150 hectares producing kiwifruit, apples and cherries for markets around the world. Based in Riwaka, the multi-generational family business combines orchard production with packing, grading, cool storage and export programmes, giving it control across much of the journey from orchard to international customer. Its primary focus is export fruit, with kiwifruit and apples sold into Europe, Asia, the Americas, Australia and the Middle East, while cherries and other produce provide a connection with New Zealand consumers through the family’s Riwaka fruit stall and real-fruit ice cream outlet. Owned and run by the Thomas family, the business has expanded through strategic land acquisition, investment in a purpose-built apple packhouse and increased capability across its packing operations. Strategic diversification spreads risk rather than relying on a single crop or production system, while different crops and varieties also help spread workloads and make better use of infrastructure. Fruit quality remains central to the business, with decisions focused on crop loads, seasonal conditions and finding the point where yield, quality and returns are optimised. Its management decisions are grounded in practical orchard experience, despite the scale of the business. Technology is increasingly supporting that approach. Automated packing systems and AI-assisted grading are helping the business improve precision and consistency in post-harvest operations, replacing manual grading into fruit classes with greater precision. The technology also helps manage the volume of fruit passing through the business during concentrated harvest periods. Bill Thomas’s sons and extended family are involved in orchard management, packing, logistics and post-harvest operations, alongside specialist managers covering areas such as human resources and quality. Employment is another important part of the business, with both seasonal and permanent opportunities ranging from pruning, thinning and harvesting to grading, packing, machinery, quality control, logistics and management. The company promotes pathways for people to progress from hands-on orchard roles into supervision, management and specialist positions, reflecting the range of skills required across the business. Sustainability is similarly framed as a longterm practical responsibility. Thomas Bros Orchards is focused on caring for its soil, improving it year on year and sustainably growing quality fruit, while its business expansion is intended to create strong systems and a relatively low-stress working environment during peak periods. The business has been farming in Riwaka since the early 1860s, originally as a sheep station. Over more than 160 years, the family has grown tobacco, watermelons, peppers and nashi pears before fourth-generation Fred Thomas recognised the decline of tobacco and planted kiwifruit, helping establish the foundation of today’s business. Today, fifth and sixth generations remain involved, with the fifth generation providing experience and mentorship while the sixth manages day-to-day operations and long-term strategy. The seventh generation is now growing up on the land, continuing a family connection with the property that has already spanned more than six generations.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=