News
Media Release - Zespri International Limited
Date: 16 Oct 2020
Author: Hill Laboratories
16 October 2020
Zespri International Limited announces Hill Laboratories as one of its fruit collection and maturity testing service providers with a three-year contract
Hill Laboratories, New Zealand’s largest privately owned, independent analytical laboratory, has signed a contract with Zespri Kiwifruit, New Zealand’s largest horticultural exporter, to provide fruit collection and maturity testing services.
The contract transitions the delivery of the critical fruit collection and maturity testing to a trusted partner in Hill Laboratories. The establishment of a Hill Laboratories’ laboratory in Tauranga will complement the already functioning Hamilton, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Blenheim labs.
Hill Laboratories has an established relationship with Zespri, having completed residue testing for 19 years, and the addition of the fruit collection and maturity testing services is a further step in supporting the New Zealand grower’s co-operative.
The testing is part of Zespri’s export maturity clearance programme, whereby maturity samples are collected and processed before being cleared for harvesting and plays an important role in the taste programme which incentivises growers to produce great tasting kiwifruit.
As part of the extended commitment to the Zespri partnership, Hill Laboratories has made a significant investment in terms of IT and infrastructure.
Hill Laboratories CEO, Dr Jonno Hill, says both Hill Laboratories and Zespri embody the support local drive that our country needs. Testing can be delivered by a New Zealand-owned company, contributing to the New Zealand economy.
“We’re proud to extend our partnership to now include the fruit collection and maturity testing in our service offering to Zespri,” says Dr Hill. “It allows us to further support the kiwifruit industry, by delivering a holistic service.”
“Accurate analyses are our core business, and our commitment to service excellence will provide the kiwifruit industry with assurance.”
Zespri Chief Global Supply Officer Alastair Hulbert is confident that Hill Laboratories will deliver the service effectively, having previously provided residue testing services to Zespri.
“We’re really pleased to have Hill Laboratories providing these services which are a crucial element in Zespri continuing to provide great tasting kiwifruit to our global consumers."
“The future is looking bright for the NZ kiwifruit industry, and we’re thrilled to be playing a more significant role in the coming years,” added Dr Hill.
Media contact, Hill Laboratories
Jacqui Gage-Brown, jacqui@hgb.co.nz or 027 664 7039