When the Harvest Moves Fast, Every Part of the Operation Matters
Kiwifruit harvest is one of the busiest periods of the horticultural year.
Once fruit reaches the required maturity, harvesting begins and large volumes can move quickly from orchard to packhouse. For large-scale operations, maintaining a steady flow of people, fruit and processes is essential to keeping the season on track.
J&B Sunshine supported a large-scale kiwifruit packhouse during the peak season, providing experienced workforce support across key harvesting and packhouse activities.
The focus was simple: help keep the operation moving when demand was at its highest.
More Than Moving Fruit
A successful kiwifruit season doesn’t end when fruit is picked.
After harvesting, fruit needs to move efficiently through the post-harvest process, including handling, grading and packing, before it continues through the supply chain.
For a large-scale packhouse, this means having enough people in the right place at the right time.
During peak periods, even small disruptions can create pressure across the operation. A shortage of workers in one area can affect the pace of another, making workforce coordination an important part of maintaining daily productivity.
J&B Sunshine worked alongside the operation to provide practical workforce support where it was needed most.
Keeping Pace During Peak Season
Kiwifruit harvesting is highly time-sensitive. Fruit is harvested once it reaches defined maturity requirements, and different orchard blocks can become ready at different times depending on growing conditions and orchard management.
This creates a constantly changing workforce requirement.
As volumes increase, operations need people who can adapt to busy working environments, follow processes carefully and maintain consistent standards throughout the day.
Our teams supported the operation through the demands of the peak period, helping maintain workforce capacity and continuity across daily operations.
Quality Starts With Consistency
For kiwifruit, quality is not only about what happens in the orchard.
Careful handling throughout harvesting and post-harvest operations plays an important role in ensuring fruit can move through the supply chain in good condition. Kiwifruit is graded and packed after harvest before continuing to market, making consistency at each stage important.
That means workers need to understand the importance of:
- Careful fruit handling
- Following operational procedures
- Maintaining consistent work standards
- Working efficiently as part of a larger team
For J&B Sunshine, workforce support is about more than filling positions. It’s about providing people who can contribute to a well-organised operation.
A Team Behind the Season
Large-scale horticultural operations depend on many people working together.
From orchard harvesting teams to packhouse workers, supervisors and operational staff, every role contributes to keeping the season moving.
We understand that workforce needs can change quickly during peak periods. That’s why we work with growers and horticultural businesses to provide practical, flexible workforce solutions that respond to the realities of seasonal production.
For this large-scale kiwifruit packhouse, our role was to help strengthen the workforce during one of the busiest points of the year — supporting productivity while helping the operation maintain its focus on quality.
Supporting the People Behind New Zealand’s Kiwifruit Industry
Kiwifruit is a major part of New Zealand’s horticultural sector, with the 2026 season forecast to reach around 220 million trays. The scale of production creates significant seasonal workforce requirements across orchards and packhouses.
Behind every tray is a team of people.
At J&B Sunshine, we are proud to support the growers, packhouses and horticultural businesses that keep New Zealand’s fresh produce industry moving.
When the season gets busy, having the right people in place can make all the difference.
Need workforce support for your next season?
Whether you operate a large-scale packhouse, orchard or horticultural business, J&B Sunshine can provide practical workforce solutions tailored to your seasonal requirements.
J&B Sunshine
Growing together. Harvesting success.