P R O C E S S I N G FROM FIELD TO TABLE…ONE SUPPLIER TO KEEP YOUR GOODS MOVING From grower to consumer, fruit and vegetables require a great deal of logistics and handling. Conveyor belts and systems have a crucial role in these processes, ensuring produce gets where it needs to be, and Viking Conveyor delivers premium solutions for the fruit and vegetable industry so companies can pick, process and pack with confidence. Working with internationally trusted brands such as Volta, Uni-Chain and Ammeraal, Viking has a vast product range for the best solutions. Additionally, top suppliers mean the finest support and service. Viking offerings assist with sorting, washing, inspecting, freezing and packaging. Smooth belts prevent raw produce from retaining impurities and are resistant to their acidic nature; low-temperature belts are ideal for freezing environments and tunnels won’t crack or fracture; and pop-up flights hold your goods steady, reducing waste. Viking solutions help you save on production, maintenance and cleaning costs. The need to process hygienically and safely is critical to the success of any brand. Viking is 28 APRIL 2017 aware of these demands and will assist with identifying, controlling and containing hazards through the specification, installation and maintenance of the right conveyor systems. Viking has a range of products that meet FDA, 3A and EU standards, and certification documents ensure these standards are consistently met. Have a problem with your conveyor equipment? A sales engineer will visit the facility to assess the situation, consult with you and key stakeholders, and a decision and implementation process plan will be created. Viking’s service and installation assistance is second-to-none, with onsite service teams on call 24/7 across New Zealand ensuring costly disruptions are solved quickly and efficiently. Additionally, services such as condition monitoring, a nationwide distributor network, preventative maintenance services and onsite training keep its products and its clients’ businesses running smoother for longer. Contact Viking Conveyor for more information on how they can help you, call 0800 845 464. Wellknown Bay of Island horticultural growers Alan and Helen Thompson have won the Northland Ballance Farm Environment Awards for their 70ha Kerikeri farm growing kiwifruit, lemons, melons and grapes. Together with wider family, the Thompsons have developed a complex business through diversifying, taking risks and putting back into their community and environment. LD Family Investments was established in 2008 when the couple sold their previous part-owned business Kerifresh to Turner & Growers. A decade on, the company grows kiwifruit, orchard management, lemon growing, melon cropping, grape growing and wine making, beer brewing, and post-harvest packing and storage. It also has a 25% shareholding in a produce export company Te Mata Exports, and owns Kainui Road wines, Kainui Brew Company and a concert venue. The company is also one of the biggest employers in the Kerikeri district, employing a permanent workforce of up to 150 staff members. Kiwifruit is the foundation of the business, consisting of 14ha of gold under conversion to PSA-tolerant G3 variety, and 6.5ha of Hayward’s Green. Total production in 2016 was more than 200,000 tray equivalents, although yields were down because of conversion. Yen Ben lemons are the preferred citrus cultivar for winter harvest and export trade development, along with up to 4ha of rock melons producing 200 tonnes a year. The Kainui vineyard, which produces up to 8000 bottles a year, has established rows of five grape varieties – pinot gris, viognier, sauvignon blanc, tempranillo and syrah – and two newly planted varieties – chardonnay and gewürztraminer. LD Family Investments follows industry best practice with Global GAP, NZ GAP, Sustainable Winegrowing NZ accreditation for orchards and BRC (British Retail Consortium) accreditation for the Kerikeri packhouse. The family has integrated growing, packing and exporting activities to add business stability and has been active in kiwifruit risk management with PSA disease responses that include conversion to a new gold variety, industry variety trials and shelter construction. The judges said the Thompsons were a team with complementary skills and their vision, passion, drive and community spirit has provided employment for many people. The concert areas and surrounding vineyard, with adjacent 3ha rejuvenated wetland, board walk, bush tracks and waterfall show their love for the land and drive for continual improvement with sustainability. The Thompsons will host a field day on May 3 at the Kainui Road Vineyard, 15 Conifer Lane, Kerikeri. HORTICULTURAL STALWARTS WIN
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