New Zespri chairman Bruce Cameron is taking over at a time of strong continuity and volume in kiwifruit exports.
He replaces Te Puna grower Peter McBride who has stood down to pursue other primary industry interests, including a Fonterra directorship.
Cameron has been a grower since 1978, owning dairy, sheep, beef and kiwifruit farms at Otamarakau, east of Te Puke.
He has also held a number of governance roles including managing director of the Cameron Group, whose interests were in the quarry and transport industries before it was sold to Fletcher Concrete and Infrastructure in 2007.
He is on the boards of Cameron Farms, Gilston Mains, The Realty Group and is the chairman of the Waipuna Hospice Foundation.
Cameron has been a Zespri director since August 2010 and his appointment as chairman is to provide ongoing, strong leadership and experience for the company.
And he is set on continuing its growth.
“I’m focused on ensuring our consumer demand is ahead of our supply,” he said.
“The growth of Zespri SunGold production and a strong Hayward crop have meant we’ve been able to maintain our run rate for both categories and continue to put our fruit in the face of consumers.
“We don’t want to fall into the trap of swapping volume for value so we’ve got to stay focused on securing value in offshore markets, putting New Zealand growers first and bringing that value back to our local economy.”
Cameron wants to remove some complexity from the Zespri business, particularly in its operations abroad.
“We need to continue to be very careful in how we operate in overseas markets.
“In recent years we’ve been involved in some offshore trials. Looking ahead, it is critical that we operate only in countries that respect our plant variety rights and the local jurisdictions,” he said.
“The Asia market, in particular, is a big focus for our business.
“We need to be well-prepared when we launch in these markets. We need to have our eyes wide-open.”
While Zespri is having its day in the sun – with it recently increasing its value to growers despite a season in which the volume of kiwifruit sold fell by 11% – it is certainly not short of challenges.
Key concerns for growers remain a shortage in labour, access to land and water and retaining their licence to grow.
“There is a real need in the industry for more workers every season because of the growing canopy area we’re planting every year.
“We are set on ensuring we can provide employment opportunities for New Zealanders first before going further afield.
“We want Kiwis to be able to enter our industry, develop their skills and if they have further career aspirations in the sector then provide them with opportunities to achieve these.”
Zespri supplies kiwifruit to consumers year-round, worldwide
“That supply is coming from NZ for eight months of the year and then we’re supplying from the northern hemisphere for the remaining four months so it’s important we maintain our market access.
“We must continue to step through the hoops of the global trade dynamic.”
They are challenges Cameron is well-quipped to manage, Zespri said in a statement.
Zespri director Jonathan Mason acknowledged McBride’s long-standing contribution to the board.
“Peter has been an outstanding chairman for Zespri and a leader in the kiwifruit industry.
“Among his achievements was his leadership in supporting the industry’s recovery from the serious challenge of Psa – communicating and listening to growers and developing the response.
“He then saw through the execution of our product and market strategy in response to Psa with the expansion of SunGold and strong, sustainable performance for Green contributing to record returns for the industry.”
McBride’s tenure as chairman from 2013 saw a growth in average per-hectare returns across all kiwifruit varieties of 55% and growth in the share price from 50 cents in March 2013 to more than $8 a share.
“He leaves behind a strong legacy,” Mason said.
McBride will be formally acknowledged for his contribution to Zespri and the kiwifruit industry at the company’s annual meeting later this year.
Cameron’s position was effective from February 18.
Contribution:
In the 2017-18 season Zespri’s total fruit and service payments to growers increased by 6% to $1.47 billion.
Total revenue, which includes licence income, was $2.51b.
Last year saw a 25% increase in
Kiwifruit production increased 25% last year with export revenue forecast to rise to $2.2 billion for the year ended March 2019, according to the Ministry for Primary Industries.
