Central Cherry Orchard Limited Partnership (CCOLP) has been named as a finalist in the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) Good Employer Awards for 2023.

The Waikerikeri Valley orchard is up against two other finalists in the employee development award, Perrin Ag (Rotorua based agribusiness and farm advisory company), and Hohepa Hawke’s Bay (residential and day programmes for intellectually disabled people including work and ongoing learning opportunities). 

Orchard manager Hayden Taylor, who has been with CCOLP for the past 15 months, said they were facing “tough competition” but getting this far was important recognition for the team.

“We’re all relatively new to the cherry industry; both me and our operations manager have come from apples.”

The team is made up of six permanent employees, ranging in age from 17 years old to almost retirement age.

The orchard’s first year of production was last year and around 25-40 recognised seasonal employees (RSE) assisted over the busy harvest season.

Celebrating milestones over kai (food), RSE and staff enjoying a barbecue after the orchard’s first harvest. 

Hayden said when recruiting they often looked for people outside horticulture who had transferable skills and good ethics.

“We bring them in and tailor what we do, there is a robust induction, standard operating procedures and we support all staff if they find something relevant to their training, we [assist] them to go on workshops or training courses.”

A programme the orchard has joined up to, run in conjunction with Dunstan High School careers team, is allowing students to have “immersion in the orchard”.

Hayden is providing one day a week work experience to a 17-year-old South African and a new arrival to Central, and he said it is going really well.

“We’re constantly trying to be better at what we do and always looking for ways we can improve. Training [and] safety are very important to us as is sustainability and biodiversity.”

CCOLP is on Stones Road in Waikerikeri Valley. PHOTO: MyFarm 

The team have begun a planting programme on the orchard’s non productive ground, with advice from Haehaeata Trust and the help of Alexandra Primary students, they have planted natives in gullies.

CCOLP operations manager Chris Hull (centre) on the planting day. 

CCOLP has 75 hectares of 13 varieties of cherries planted in the KGB training method (named after Kym Green Bush, it is a renewable multi leader bush system where most of the fruit is grown on two or three year old wood.)

CCOLP was developed by MyFarm and its investors and according to MyFarm’s website has a total asset value of $19.3M.

Now in their fourth year, the MPI Good Employer Awards (GEA) celebrate and recognise good employers who show genuine passion for ensuring the success of their people.

MPI manager workforce Beth Davie said they were blown away by the record number and high calibre of entries in this year’s GEA.

"We received entries from a range of different employers in the food and fibre sector including dairy, forestry, horticulture, meat processing, and food production.

"A clear theme in the entries was the respect and appreciation of the huge role employees play in the success of their businesses."

Beth said people have always been at the heart of our food and fibre sector businesses.

"Our Good Employer Awards help to shine the spotlight on employers in Aotearoa who put their people first. 

"Providing a great work environment goes a long way towards boosting morale, attracting and retaining people, and contributing to the overall success of businesses."

The winners will be announced on Monday August 21 in Wellington by the Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor.

Awards categories are Māori Agribusiness, Employee Development, Safe & Healthy Work Environment, Inclusive & Diverse Workplace, Small Business Recognition and a Supreme Award.

Read more about the awards finalists here.

A past Central finalist was CAJ Apples (Roseburn Orchard) who were a finalist for the ‘Safe and Healthy Work Environment award in 2022.

PHOTOS: Supplied/ MyFarm