Seeka has opened its new packhouse in Kerikeri.
The new packhouse building and grading machinery completion is part of the $18.6m facility upgrade and investment in Northland.
"This is a world class post-harvest facility. The investment will significantly lift the capacity of the business and give growers better harvest timing across all varieties handled – kiwifruit, avocados and citrus. While there is a little way to go to complete the upgrade to the site, final machine shifts, coolstore builds and construction, this is an important waypoint achieved," Seeka's chief executive Michael Franks said.
"We are ensuring our local people have the right infrastructure to deliver quality, price and service in our post-harvest business. We are investing to support our existing growers along with the tremendous support of new growers choosing Seeka as their post-harvest service provider. The investment will add to the economic vibrancy of Northland and local contractors were used extensively on the build."
The event was attended by growers, local government officials and community leaders.