A simple modification to picking bags used by Apata contractors has the potential to improve the storage quality of green kiwifruit and increase grower orchard gate returns.

Apata Managing Director Stuart Weston says up to 500 bags have been fitted with a removable cover that will mean pickers have to place fruit into the bag, instead of dropping it in, reducing the risk of tissue damage.

Stuart Weston Apata Managing Director and Damian Young, Kiwifruit Grower Services Manager with the modified picking bag they hope will improve fruit quality.

'I got the idea from very successful South Auckland grower Carlos Verissimo who was frustrated about the way his fruit was being handled and put a strip of canvass over the top, narrowing the opening, so pickers could no longer `rain down' fruit into the bags.”

The idea appealed to Stuart who was seeking ways to help improve fruit quality, especially of fruit that stays in storage for a long time.

'Twenty years ago green kiwifruit were incredibly tough and we treated them like bullets. However, back then growers were producing only 4000 trays a hectare.

'Now that's increased to up to 13,000 and the vines are under much more stress, affecting the cellular structure of fruit so it's much more fragile.”

Zespri has introduced further transparency and demand for accountability for fruit performance offshore and Stuart says that's caused operators look carefully at their fruit handling.

'I totally agree that Zespri should sheet home the costs where they belong. Reducing repacking and fruit loss offshore begins at the orchard. If we can improve the quality of the fruit as it's picked and ensure we handle it well throughout the post-harvest supply chain, then we will reduce costs and improve grower returns.”

Modifying the bags is just one step, he says.

'It's about changing the mind-set at every step of the way.”

In an industry with tight margins and tough competition for crop to harvest, Stuart says growers will be looking to post-harvest operators to lift their game and make savings.

'There are tens of cents of gains to be made by simple, practical ideas like the bags and it's those kinds of innovations we should be looking at.”

Other picking and post-harvest companies have expressed an interest in the bags, and Stuart's quite happy if they introduce the modification too.

'I'd be happy if others picked up the idea. If we can collectively raise fruit quality off-shore we all gain and can return better profits to growers.”