Gizzy Kai Rescue benefits from 2020 kiwifruit harvest

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Gizzy Kai Rescue has picked up a significant allocation of the 100 tonnes of kiwifruit being distributed by the industry to food rescue organisations around the country this season.

“We are very grateful as it came at a time when there was high demand,” says Gizzy Kai Rescue manager Lauren Beattie.

“We have had five allocations of eight to 10 boxes which we distribute to our recipient groups.

“It's always good to get healthy food packed with Vitamin C.”

The food rescue charity has received about 60kg of kiwifruit every five weeks since mid-May.

“It's great to have a relationship with Zespri now — but we are very thankful to all our local supporters too.”

Gizzy Kai Rescue is a not-for-profit charity which re-distributes food that would otherwise go to waste.

Since October 2018 it has received 100 tonnes of rescued food for distribution.

Recipients of Gizzy Kai Rescue food are SuperGrans, House of Breakthrough Church, Plunket, Women's Refuge, SPCA, Te Hapara Family Services, Te Hiringa Matua, Pacific Island Community Trust, Equippers Church, Oasis Homeless Shelter and JCR Church.

“In Gisborne, we're proud to be supporting local organisations like Gizzy Kai Rescue,” said Zespri chief executive Dan Mathieson.

“It's an organisation doing amazing things including promoting sustainable food use and making sure that those who need it most are supported and have access to quality fresh and healthy food.

“We're donating nearly half a tonne of quality green and red kiwifruit locally, and 100 tonnes of Zespri Kiwifruit nationally, which is something the whole industry can take great pride in.”

Mr Mathieson says that despite the challenges posed by Covid-19, the completion of this season's harvest reflected a huge effort across the industry to pick and pack the 2020 season crop in record time and the industry appreciated the support it had received in order to continue to operate.

“This season really has demonstrated the sense of collaboration within the kiwifruit industry and the strong support we've received,” says Mr Mathieson.

“Our supply chain has worked together to safely pick, pack and ship this season's bumper crop and provide jobs to locals who had lost their roles in the hospitality and tourism sectors as a result of the impact of Covid-19.

“Considering the uncertainty presented by the pandemic, the fact all of this season's crop has already been picked and packed and 32 of our planned 48 charter vessels have already shipped our fruit to market puts us in the best possible position to tackle the challenges we are facing in our markets and is something we can all be proud of.”

With the impact of Covid-19 putting greater strain on many community organisations, Zespri has this season increased the support it offers its existing community partners and started working with several new organisations across the country.