Fifteen post-harvest companies are coming out in strong support of Zespri in the face of what the group says is a public campaign that could damage the country's kiwifruit industry.

In a letter to Ministry for Primary Industries Nathan Guy and a number of MPs, the operators say they are 'deeply concerned that what appears to us is a public campaign, supported by an anonymous minority in the kiwifruit industry, are using Zespri's historical customs issue in China as an attempt destabilise our industry structure”.

Fifteen post-harvest companies are in strong support for Zespri.

The letter is signed by a number of representatives of post-harvest companies that together make up represent 76 per cent of kiwifruit exports.

They include; Tony Hawken, EastPack; Bill Thorpe, Gisborne Kiwifruit Trust; Allan Dawson, Aongatete; Paul Jones, DMS; James Trevelyan, Trevelyan's; Rod Fry Mainland Kiwi; Stuart Weston, Apata; Tom Wilson, Aerocool; Sean Carnachan Westerns Orchards; Craig Thompson OPAC; Hemi Rolleston Te Awanui Hukapak; Rob Craig G6 Kiwi Ltd; Jan Benes, Auckland Pack & Cool; Mount Pack & Cool, Alan Thompson; LD Packers and Doug Brown Riverlock Orchard Pack and Coolstore.

The move to write to the minister and MPs follows the case of dual invoicing for the China market which resulted in Zespri's China agent being arrested on smuggling charges, fined millions and sentenced to 15 years' jail, and claims in a Sunday paper of fraud on the part of the export company.

'While the China customs matter is concerning to us, we believe Zespri must be left to work this issue through China's court system.

'Once the legal system in China has delivered its final verdict, the New Zealand kiwifruit industry will then be in a better position to understand what led to this situation and what Zespri has learnt from this issue,” the letter says.

'Some of us are both Zespri grower-shareholders and/or representatives of Zespri grower-shareholders. We are the ones best positioned to hold Zespri to account to ensure it keeps delivering to the high standards we demand of it.

'Until that point is reached, the current public speculation and campaigning against Zespri – and by extension, the industry structure – will do more to damage the Zespri brand, our interests and grower interests than the customs matter itself.”

China is a hugely valuable market to the New Zealand kiwifruit industry, and therefore the companies' and communities' livelihoods, says the letter.

'Our market penetration into China continues to grow, which gives us confidence that the customs issue is not impacting on the Zespri brand or Zespri's future in China. We will continue to hold Zespri to account to ensure this remains the case, not only in China but in the other 55 markets it sells into around the world.

'We represent the vast majority of the kiwifruit industry, and we want to ensure you are aware of our view on this matter. If you are pressured on this matter, please be assured that Zespri and the kiwifruit industry structure retains our confidence and support,” the letter to the minister and MPs says.

A Zespri spokesperson has told SunLive that Zespri began changing import partners in 2011 and no longer uses Shanghai Neuhof (the company involved in the court case) as an importer. It is currently working with three importers in China.

'Zespri is in discussions with a number of other importers, including large state-owned enterprises in China, as it seeks to further expand its importer base into China in the future. This season in China has started well and fruit is clearing customs without issue.”

The 15 post-harvest companies are quite diverse in their ownership structures, but as a group represent the largest capital investment in the New Zealand kiwifruit industry, with more than $450million in investments in orchards, packing facilities and related assets.

At the peak of the kiwifruit season, the group employs more than 8500 people in post-harvest facilities and return approximately $100million through wages and salaries to the communities in which they operate.
They are each competitors for crop volume within New Zealand, however collectively remain strong supporters of the New Zealand integrated kiwifruit industry structure, with Zespri as its marketer and owner of the world's premium kiwifruit brand.

'We know the success of our individual organisations rely upon the New Zealand kiwifruit industry being able to achieve the scale and long-term commitment to build a leading global brand like Zespri, which enables our industry to compete in a very competitive international fruit trading environment.

'Without this structure, the returns we receive from offshore markets would be severely compromised. Recent examples of our post-harvest industry working collaboratively is the response to Psa, and the development and release of new varieties,” the letter says.