Kiwifruit referendum results released

The final results of the Kiwifruit Industry Strategy Project referendum on the structure of the Kiwifruit Industry have been released.

EastPack Chairman Ray Sharp said the fact that growers representing 80 per cent of New Zealand's kiwifruit production voted was significant and gave confidence to the wider industry, including EastPack, to make further investment in the industry.

"A lot of consultation, time and thought by industry leaders went into developing the final proposals. The fact that over 90 per cent of the votes supported the proposals is a great outcome".

"We join our growers in our continued support of the SPE encompassed in Zespri and our collaborative marketing structure and the proposed development of more appropriate structuring of Zespri ownership and industry control for the next 10 to 15 years. The referendum result supports a strong mandate for the changes proposed, some very fundamental and some refinements to shape Zespri to better add value to our NZ kiwifruit industry", Mr Sharp said.

"I am grateful that our industry has again shown the maturity to pull together on this referendum as it has done on other important issues and crisis. The referendum result lays the foundation to improve the industry structure with grower control and ownership doing what we can to leverage better outcomes for ourselves as growers and our country.

"The NZ kiwifruit industry is unique and the model is an example of how our small country can compete effectively internationally for the benefit of the NZ economy. It sets us apart in a world fruit trade where growers normally have little control over their destiny and adds significant value to the otherwise commodity dominated trade.''

The result gives EastPack more confidence to invest for rapid growth of its part of the New Zealand kiwifruit post-harvest sector.

EastPack's kiwifruit volumes are expected to increase by 30 per cent in 2015 and 50 per cent over three years from 2014. This growth requires substantial investment of capital in packing and coolstorage facilities across the Bay of Plenty as well as requiring a significant increase in skilled employment opportunities within the company and throughout the kiwifruit industry.