T&G Global has been celebrating 120 years throughout 2017 with a raft of events around the country.
The company, formerly known as Turners and Growers, was founded in 1987.
What began as a fruit and flower business on Karangahape Rd in Auckland has grown into New Zealand's largest fresh produce exporter with substantial assistance from its Hawke's Bay staff and partner growers.
Yesterday, five senior executives from Auckland travelled to Whakatu, where 500 staff at its Anderson Rd site celebrated the milestone.
A celebration video, speeches, a question and answer session and a cake were all part of the event.
Among those in attendance was CEO Alastair Hulbert, who spoke about the significant achievements the company had made - all while on top of a T&G truck.
"Our founder Edward Turner was ahead of his time in many ways, establishing a flourishing fruit and flower business in 1897 originally in Auckland with the support of his nine sons.
"Fast forward to 2017 and T&G has a footprint the length and breadth of New Zealand plus 12 offices offshore delivering the best of New Zealand to Kiwis, and the world, and importing what is needed to provide people with fresh produce every day, everywhere."
He added that "in an age where obesity and heart disease are rampant, I'm proud T&G provides people with healthy food options".
"We're passionate about what we're doing and possibly one of the many reasons we continue to grow 120 years after our first seed was grown," Mr Hulbert said.
Currently, they grow alongside about 1500 growers across Hawke's Bay and the rest of the country.
The CEO said he was excited about the next chapter of the company.
"We are proud to champion the best of New Zealand and grateful for the support Kiwis - including our passionate growers - have given us over the past 120 years.
"We're looking forward to continuing our strong relationships and enabling Kiwis to eat healthy food and enjoy an active lifestyle for many years to come.
"We're equally proud to have such strong support in Hawke's Bay from our growers, customers, suppliers and people."
Yesterday morning, Mr Hulbert visited Haumoana School with the judges to present them with the 2017 T&G Garden to Table School of the Year Award.
In its first year, they received about 70 applications from primary schools and keen young gardeners aged between 7 and 11 from all over New Zealand.
The awards were judged by well-known New Zealand gardening journalist and broadcaster Lynda Hallinan; acclaimed New Zealand chef and restaurateur Al Brown; executive officer at Garden to Table, Linda Taylor, and executive general manager of NZ Produce at T&G Global, Andrew Keaney.
Teacher Jon Lovell said, "The children absolutely thrive on the opportunities provided by the Garden to Table programme. Be it in the kitchen or garden, they are totally engaged and thoroughly enjoy the opportunity for 'hands on' real life learning."
He said the garden has become a real focal point for the children as they proudly share their learnings with their parents, siblings and school mates.
"Many of the children have been the driving force in planting gardens at home, based on the enthusiasm they have gained with the school garden. Many of the children (7-8 years old) also now cook on a regular basis for their families," Mr Lovell said.