EastPack is investing about $15 million this kiwifruit season in a move to not only meet growing fruit volumes, but also the narrow harvest window of the new variety SunGold.

“About $4.5 million of the investment is in a new nine-lane, high-tech, high speed Compac grader in our Washer Rd site,” says EastPack’s interim chief executive John Loughlin.

“This is the first time we’ve installed a nine-lane grader but it will enable us to get 50 per cent more fruit processed, which is important given SunGold’s relatively narrow harvest window.”

The grader has InVision camera technology, which identifies class 1 fruit and reduces the need for human graders. It also has automated bulk fillers for packing fruit too.

In order to meet the demands created by predicted increases in fruit volumes from 24.5 million trays last year to 31.1m trays this year, EastPack is also building new coolstores at its Opotiki site, and Collins Lane site in Te Puke. These two coolstores will increase EastPack’s coolstore static capacity by more than one million trays.

The Washer Rd Te Puke facility, mothballed when Satara and EastPack merged, is undergoing major redevelopment.

“As well as the new nine-lane grader, coolstore capacity on this site will increase by more than 700,000 trays of kiwifruit.”

Other initiatives with EastPack’s controlled atmosphere coolstores will add another one million trays of coolstore capacity. In addition, the company has invested in new plant and machinery and more than 13,000 new harvest bins for the 2015 season.

Despite increased automation, EastPack will employ even more staff this season and John says there are opportunities for full and seasonal work at all levels thanks to the increasing growth and sophistication of the kiwifruit industry.

The majority of employees are New Zealanders but once again Recognised Seasonal Employer workers from the Pacific will join the workforce.

“EastPack is not the only postharvest company investing heavily this season,” says John.

“Many others are doing the same and this is a vote of confidence in the industry.

“Zespri is investing more in marketing capability internationally and it’s up to us to maximise the performance of the onshore ‘manufacturing’ side of the business.”