Pipfruit growers preparing for boom times

Orchardist Con van der Voort (centre) tells Port Otago customer service co-ordinator Trish Reid (left) and Work and Income regional labour market manager Deb Sutton about the future of apples at one of his orchards near Roxburgh yesterday. Photo: Jono Edwards.

With a bright future predicted for Central Otago apples, the pipfruit industry is trying to address the challenges that come with success.

Turners and Growers (T&G), which stores and dispatches 85% of Central Otago's pipfruit, yesterday toured workers from Port Otago and Work and Income through Central Otago orchards and packhouses to address obstacles which could affect the industry.

The value of apple exports in the region has risen from $13million in 2012 to an estimated $26million last season.

T&G plans to increase the number of cartons dispatched from Central Otago from 750,000 this year to 1.3million by 2025.

The company's Otago regional manager, Jeff McDonald, said a major challenge was ensuring there were enough containers to ship the products.

"We've got the people from Port Otago here to prepare them a bit. With doubling our volume we're going to need to make sure they provide us with containers on time."

The industry was now exporting mainly to Asia, which meant storing more apples.

"We're now 60% to 70% in that market, which is good, because they pay good prices. But they will want to put a variety on the shelves 12 months a year."

This meant moving towards varieties like Jazz apples, which stored well, and technology which kept the fruit in good condition for longer, he said.

"The region needs to spend $20million in the next five years just on logistics - upgrading packhouses, building more coolstores."

The shortage of forklift drivers was a "big issue", he said.

Orchardist Con van der Voort, whose operation produces more than 600,000 18kg cartons a year, said the industry relied on foreign workers.

"If it wasn't for the people from overseas, I would have to close the gates. We look after their accommodation. I've got several houses I've got people in."

Orchardists could really plan only one year ahead, he said.

"People always talk about planning 10 years ahead, but the thing we don't know is how the market goes."

Despite this, Mr Van der Voort expanded his operation this year by planting 27,000 trees at Earnscleugh, near Alexandra.

Health and safety regulations were a major obstacle in the industry, he said.

"The big challenge is controls and controls and controls. We can easily do without the bulk of them.

"We're getting more and more regulation over time."

Port Otago customer service co-ordinator Trish Reid said providing enough containers in the future would be a challenge, but the port always met demand.

"It's nice to know in advance."