OPAC is expanding its operation into organic and class II fruit this season.

Seeka OPAC site manager Jackson Edwards said the season was shaping up to be a good one with plenty of fruit.

“We expect to pack 4.5 million trays of kiwifruit here in the Ōpōtiki and Te Kaha area,” he said.

OPAC is now certified to pack organic kiwifruit, the only such packhouse in the area.

“Organic growers now have the option to pack their fruit locally,” Mr Edwards said.

To be certified as an organic packhouse, there was lots of compliance requirements, including the need to keep the organic fruit segregated.

Mr Edwards said OPAC would not pack any red this year, due to low volume, and would run three fully-staffed shifts, two day and one night.

“We are confident we can pack the volumes with three shifts, but we have the option to run a fourth shift, should it be needed,” Mr Edwards said.

“At the back of a couple of good years, we are hoping to increase our volumes.”

In the lead-up to the packing season, permanent staff members are undertaking pre-season courses with Zespri, KGI and other training providers.

OPAC has 35 permanent staff in the packhouse and will hire 300 seasonal workers.

“Many familiar faces are coming back,” Mr Edwards said.

Regional orchard manager Rene Kapa said in the orchards, OPAC had 50 permanent staff with another 200 RSEs and Ōpōtiki residents being hired during the picking season.

“The seasonal workers are on three-month or six-month fixed-term contracts,” he said.

Regional post harvest manager Marty Hansen said for this season, OPAC had invested in a new class II sizer, which gave the packhouse access to the class II market.

“We have done the commissioning and are ready to go, aiming for a third year with good results,” he said.

“We have increased our security, including installing more cameras, this also helps with health and safety as well as fruit visibility.”

During the OPAC open day last Friday, trainee orchard manager Jake Jansen and orchard manager Tony Beal were manning the stand for hiring pickers and other workers.

“We’ve signed up three people so far, having been here for half an hour,” Mr Jansen said.

“Most of the workers will be signing up online.”