Tōrea Orchard is set to produce millions of apples annually on 250 hectares of former dairy land. The operation will begin harvesting in 2028 and it will be managed by FarmRight for the NZ Super Fund.
Workers Dub Tōrea Orchard ‘The Hort Resort’
The workers refer to Tōrea Orchard as “the hort resort”—a nod to the scale and quality of the development now developing in Pendarves. The orchard will include 900,000 trees producing 116 million Rockit and Joli apples annually. Installation of trellising and irrigation is underway, with muddy conditions failing to stall momentum. “Conversion is going ahead at pace,” say developers.
Building Infrastructure and Housing Seasonal Workers
Infrastructure includes on-site accommodation for 100 permanent staff, while off-site facilities in Ashburton or Rakaia will house up to 200 seasonal workers.
Most of the seasonal workforce will come through the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme. Buses and vans will transport workers from the off-site housing to reduce traffic impacts on local rural roads.
Creating Jobs and Economic Growth
The economic impact is expected to be substantial. Gavin Tayles, FarmRight’s chief operating officer, noted that “in about four years, the annual spend on employment would be up to 40 times that of a dairy farm.”
Tōrea Orchard is set to employ around 85 full-time equivalent staff, 450 seasonal pickers for a seven-week harvest, and 150 workers for pruning.
“The development will create employment opportunities and flow-on benefits for community groups, churches and sports teams,” Tayles said.
Turning Cropping Skills into Horticultural Careers
One of the first permanent hires is orchard manager Matt Bentley of Ashburton, who joined the team in February. Coming from a cropping background, Bentley is embracing his new leadership role.
“People management is what I love. I think that’s what’s going to be the best for me, growing people alongside the crop,” Bentley said. FarmRight leaders say Bentley represents a new path into horticulture for people without industry experience.
“It will be a new opportunity for people to get into the industry, and we will teach them what to do,” said Ed Tapp, general manager of the NZ Super Fund rural portfolio.
Growing Premium Apples in Ideal Conditions
The region’s climate, with cold winters and rich soils, is ideally suited for growing high-quality apples. “Winter chill condenses the bloom and gives a good fruit set,” said Red Martin, FarmRight’s general manager of pip fruit.
Tayles said there are plans to align with other local industries to create year-round work opportunities for seasonal staff. “We will be looking to create synergies with other local seasonal workforces to help extend periods of work for people,” he said.
Tōrea Orchard represents a major leap forward for Mid Canterbury’s horticultural sector, with millions of dollars in investment and hundreds of jobs in the pipeline.