Central Otago Fruit Season Officially Launched

Media release – Tuesday, 13th December 2016

Central Otago Fruit Season Officially Launched

International fruit industry representatives, wholesalers, airline representatives and local Central Otago fruitgrowers officially launched the start of the Central Otago fruit season with a special celebration at Cromwell today (13 December).

Hosted by Central Otago Premium Fruit Ltd, the event was attended by 48 delegates, including guests from China, Vietnam and New Zealand. Shangai-based New Zealand Trade & Enterprise Trade Commissioner, Damon Paling, also attended.

Central Otago Premium Fruit Ltd is a premium global brand that markets and sells Central Otago cherries into Malaysia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, China and New Zealand, as well as selling apricots into the United States.

The event was a unique opportunity for Central Otago Premium Fruit Ltd’s distribution chain partners to celebrate the start of the season together.

Guests were formally welcomed by Central Otago mayor, Tim Cadogan, before Central Otago Premium Fruit Ltd chair, Malcolm Macpherson, spoke about the special nature of Central Otago and the fruit that is produced here.

“We are thrilled to have you all here today to show you what makes our land, our fruit and our people so special,” Mr Macpherson said.

“There is no better place in the world to grow cherries and no better cherries grown anywhere in the world. For more than 100 years, this region has hand-grown New Zealand’s premium fruit.”

Mr Paling from NZTE also spoke, before wholesalers, Foodview, RD8 and MG Marketing, were presented with certificates to acknowledge their partnership with Central Otago Premium Fruit Ltd.

Guests and media also visited 45 South and Sarita orchards and the 45 South packing shed.

ENDS

About Central Otago cherries
The world’s finest cherries are grown in Central Otago. Here, the climate extremes and schist soils gift a distinctively bold, complex sweetness that creates the perfect cherry. Orchardists precisely manage factors such as crop load, the amount of light a tree receives, nutrition and irrigation. Many orchards are family-owned and skills and knowledge is handed down through the generations. Almost all of New Zealand’s prized export cherries are grown in Central Otago - they are a considered an international delicacy often presented as a prestigious gift.

About Central Otago Premium Fruit Ltd
Central Otago Premium Fruit Ltd is owned by a collaborative company of local growers who supply Central Otago fruit to the world. Central Otago is home to many small family orchards all striving to produce exceptional fruit. The growers all share a love of Central Otago, with its high mountains, deep valleys and clear rivers.

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