Kiwifruit export transportation has stepped-up with the opening of a new $11 million cool storage facility at the Port of Tauranga.
The development includes 4200 square metres of cool store space, a 360-square metre kiwifruit quality inspection area and 3000 square metres of canopy truck loading and unloading area.
The previous cool store facility was close to 50 years old.
Port chief executive Mark Cairns told the New Zealand Herald it was ”well and truly at the end of its life”.
The new facility is part of a 15-year freight agreement between the port and Tauranga Kiwifruit Logistics which delivers kiwifruit to markets around the world.
Kiwifruit exports from the port increased more than 20% last year representing over 400,000 tonnes of the fruit during a six-month period.
