NZ Apple Producer First to Apply Origin System

Media Release

NZ Apple Producer first in World to Apply Origin System

10-August, 2009

One of New Zealand’s leading apple producers has implemented a system to ensure that their fruit is protected in the international market place.

Taylor Corporation Ltd, internationally recognised for providing quality services to growers and importers, exports approximately 1 million cases of fruit each year making them one of NZ’s largest contributors to the pipfruit industry. Owners Kelvin and Lynette Taylor are motivated to ensure the success of the NZ pipfruit industry and have spent more than 35 years developing sustainable production techniques and continual quality improvements to ensure that their end product is well branded and carries the reputation of being consistently high quality fruit. With a superior NZ product, the Taylors recognise the need to protect their brand from fraud.

To address this issue, and to be able to provide assurances to overseas markets, the Taylors engaged Oritain Global Limited to independently certify the origin of their fruit. Apples grown on Taylor Corporation orchards will be able to be verified back to the orchard, regardless of packaging, boxing, or labelling.

“Food fraud is a pervasive global issue for all producers who have worked hard to earn a good reputation. Taylor Corporation can now back up their brand promise of quality and excellence with an insurance of integrity. If there is ever any doubt about the product being the “real thing”, Oritain can prove it”, said Mike Darling, Oritain’s General Manger of NZ Operations. “Taylor Corporation will no longer be dependent solely upon the integrity of the supply chain or the actions of other players in the market to protect the integrity of their fruit”.

Mr Darling explained that labels you apply to the fruit can be easily tampered with. Oritain relies on properties inside the fruit—chemical properties that are unique and link the fruit to the land where it was grown. More importantly, these properties are impossible to tamper with. “Our buyers and their consumers— especially in the EU and the US where country of origin labeling is mandatory—pay a premium for a safe NZ apple and want to know that it’s the real thing. With the use of Oritain technology, the apple can be traced back to the orchard where it was grown in New Zealand by the use of our orchards own unique geological features.” remarked Kelvin Taylor, “Oritain have developed a unique, tamper-proof, system for verifying where a product comes from. We’re excited to be able to offer this to our consumers.”

About Taylor Corporation

Taylor Corporation Ltd is a family owned and operated Growing, Packing and Exporting company located in the sunny Hawke’s Bay region of New Zealand. Prior to 1995 and as far back as the late 1970's, fruit was packed under the orchard name (Golden Del). Our operation has progressed steadily over the course of the last 25 years into one of the most reputable in the business.

Taylor Corporation Ltd is built on years of experience in the apple industry. Owners Kelvin and Lynette Taylor each have over 35+ years of experience in the industry and are driven by the passion to see the industry succeed well into the future.

About Oritain
We are the leading provider of independent scientific verification of origin services. Oritain Holdings is a global company, based in New Zealand with operating companies in Australia, the US and New Zealand. Our trademark is protected, and like our name means “certainty of origin.”

ENDS

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