Meet the Executive:

CHAIRMAN / SUPPLIER

Jon has been in and around organic Kiwifruit growing for much of his life.

He was an organic Kiwifruit orchard manager for many years, ran a successful corporate team building company, now sits on the  BioGro Board of Directors, Chair of a community group called Families Achieving Balance (FAB) and is the organic category manager for Seeka.

When he hasn’t got his head in organic kiwifruit growing, he’s got his hands on his new planting of organic avocado trees at his own property in Pyes Pa. Or enjoying life with his family (including three grandees) and an unruly Dog called Ruby.

GROWER

Dennis and his wife Debbie have been involved in the kiwifruit industry since the 1980s when the family dairy farm in Te Puke was converted to a commercial kiwifruit orchard. They both worked on the orchard until the downturn in the 1990s when Debbie started work off orchard in Post Harvest.

In 1999 with the desire to protect and nurture the environment and to try and leave the property in a better state than when they found it, the Organic journey started.

Dennis has visited the markets on many occasions and really enjoys the opportunity to interact with the consumers.

He has held a number of positions within the industry including NZKGI forum member, Kiwifruit Product to Australia member, Te Puke Fruitgrowers Executive member, COKA Organic Management member and former COKA treasurer.

While not on the orchard he enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing squash, going to the gym and walking around Mount Maunganui.

Secretary

Bev Carter became solely responsible for her 2-hectare kiwifruit orchard when PSA hit the industry in 2010. For Bev, this became the turning point in organic growing. The 1-ha orchard was stumped and regrafted into todays organic gold kiwifruit. The four years before production gave ample time to plant and train: 1/2 ha of plants into organic Hayward; 4 years later, another 1/2 ha was developed again in organic Hayward. Learning to graft, train and manage the orchard became my happy place until I sold it in February 2024.

After many years in the medical world, I accepted a challenge: as the sole trainer within NZ to set up and train medical and dental practices in computerisation. My position also included writing manuals and testing software releases for both practices and ACC. In those days, cell phones were the size of a brick, showing how technology never ends.

After 5 years, I returned to management roles in the medical and dental field for another long stint before taking over the orchard, I currently hold the position of COKA secretary.

Challenges in a hectic life have helped contribute to my understanding and acceptance of all facets of life. I have a daughter in Darwin with 3 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, as well as a daughter in Christchurch with one grandson and two great-grandchildren in Tauranga

Treasurer and Grower

 have worked in our beekeeping & orchard business for many years and was able to work from home when our children were growing up. We currently have 12 staff between both entities. 

Both Steve and I are passionate about Organic kiwifruit and run a Manuka farm down Ruatiti way, where we are currently running a conservation programme to get rid of unwanted pests i.e. rabbits, possums, stoats, feral cats, pigs etc so that the eight sets of breeding kiwis stand a chance to breed safely without pests stealing their eggs. There is also a family of blue ducks that need protecting as well. It is an ongoing operation and i love to spend time there, whenever its possible. 

Lorraine is our current COKA treasurer.

Grower

I started out as being interested in Beekeeping when I was 13 years old when I had to cycle from my home in Maungatapu up to Oropi to help out a beekeeper after school and in the holidays. I then went to Darwin to help with the rebuild after Cyclone Tracy devastated the area. 

When I came back to NZ I started up my own beekeeping business in the Kaimai ranges after I bought 1 hectare of land which had some green kiwifruit on it, of which I pulled out as it wasn't worth much back in the late 70's. 

Now with my wife Lorraine and I we have a thriving Beekeeping business where we do Kiwifruit pollination, Manuka honey and export live bees to Canada. 

We bought 5 hectares of land on Jensen Road and planted 3 hectares of Organic Gold and 2 hectares of Organic Hayward right from the start. Our neighbour commented that they only bought their land and house next to our property because it was organic as they didn't want to live next to a conventional orchard. 

Our house in Jensen Road is off the grid and we have 70 solar panels, an electric car and ute plus an electric mower and side by side. 

We have two children that both work in our Beekeeping business and are the proud nana and poppa of three grandchildren. 

GROWER

I have  been involved in the kiwifruit industry for over 20 years since my  husband James and I bought our first orchard in Te Puke. It was a rocky introduction to horticulture for me as  within the first few seasons we were hit with hail several times then PSA, we learnt to appreciate the good seasons when they come.

After cycling back from the mailbox with my son one day, having to hold our breath as we passed the sprayer  it was an easy decision to convert to organics.  Coming from a medical background there was little in common with growing kiwifruit so I had to learn on the spot with the help of James who had spent most of his life involved with the fruit.

I am passionate about the industry and particularly organics, I feel we have a unique position with our single desk marketing and a healthy product to sell. I feel excited about the future and enjoy my time on the COKA executive and OMC.

Supplier

Monica Roach took over as CEO of Kiwi Pollen in April 2023. Kiwi Pollen is a specialist agritech family business, founded by Monica’s parents Jill Hamlyn and Graeme Crawshaw (who are also organic growers) in 1989. Kiwi Pollen harvests quality male kiwifruit pollen and supplies precision engineered application equipment. 

Eight years’ experience as an in-house lawyer in Wellington and London has given Monica experiences across a range of industries and organisations. In 2023 Monica took part in Zepsri’s Industry Governance Development Programme, which she thoroughly enjoyed. She is now contributing to the kiwifruit industry through being a member of the NZKGI Future Leaders executive committee and is pleased to also have joined the COKA executive team.

Monica is also a busy mum of 3 young boys, enjoys going to the gym to keep her mind clear and spending time with family and friends.

Supplier