It’s been a good fruit season for Jackson Orchards, with a cherry on top as its new $3M packhouse was finished in early March.

Owner Kevin Jackson said the new packhouse, added to the original building, mirrors the original style with a striking-looking high laminated pine ceiling.

“Including the land works, power and sewage upgrade the new packhouse cost close to three million. Back 33 years ago the original building was around $300,000.”

The building took around eight months to complete and upgrades were also made to the original building at the same time including stormwater drainage, electrical and new fire doors. 

Owner Kevin Jackson 

Kevin said the purchase of a grader for stone fruit (the first of its kind in New Zealand) prior to Covid-19 meant space was exceptionally tight, which drove the new packhouse project. 

The team of 70 employees is enjoying the new insulated environment, which means better noise reduction and warmth.

“For our staff of all ages, it has lifted morale.”

Kevin said keeping up with technology and the pace of change can be a challenge.

“When you’re in business you need to be progressing and keeping up with the times.

The new grader takes around 60 photos of each piece of fruit to grade it for a particular destination market.  

The screen of the stone fruit grader 

Kevin said it does a better job than humans can and is the equivalent to 20 people working with the old machine. 

Jackson Orchards often gets overseas tourists from architecture or building sectors, they stop to buy fruit and then stay to learn more about the packhouse.

“They say ‘we’ve never seen anything like it’... and they enjoy watching people working in the packhouse.”

During the fruit harvest the business employs approximately 100 people 

Orchard manager Tania Avis, who has been on the team for the past 16 years, said it had been a good fruit season and operations were running smoothly in the new building.

“It’s been dry down here really. [As normal] we’ve had to get the fruit off the trees and out the door.”

Tania said the devastating impact of cyclone Gabrielle on fellow growers in the Hawkes Bay was on the minds of others in horticulture.

“It could happen to us too.”

Jackson Orchards on the Luggate - Cromwell Rd has been owned and operated by the Jackson family since 1969.

The business grows cherries, stone fruit, apples and pears. The roadside real fruit ice cream and smoothie stall is a must visit for locals and tourists alike.