Ross Kirk

Experience

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  Palmerston North Hospital

  Mar 1975 - Sept 1975

  Laboratory Technician

  I took and analysed blood samples in this position.

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  NZ Forest Service

  Sept 1975 - Dec 1975

  Deer Culler

  This role included environmental forestry, deer culling, tree planting and track cutting.

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  Felkirk Partnership

  Jan 1979 - Mar 1984

  Partner

  My responsibilities included orchard and packhouse management.

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  Osler Miller Realestate

  Feb 1986 - Feb 1988

  Real Estate Sales

  In this role, I sold both urban and rural real estate.

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  Corbans Winery

  Mar 1988 - Apr 1988

  Crusher Operator

  I was responsible for receiving and juicing inward grapes.

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  Felkirk Partnership

  May 1988 - Dec 2003

  Partner

  I returned to the family orchard after Cyclone Bola had devastated the property. I brought the orchard back into full production and put in new plantings of apples and pears. I purchased my own 50 acres of land and developed into apples and pears. The property came into full production in 1993 and I continued developing the family orchard, including persimmons and vineyard.In early 2002, I developed a specialist Japanese melon growing programme, including importing seeds from Japan, growing the melons and exporting back to Japan.In 2003, I purchased 30 acres from the family orchard and took over a lease for a further 50 acres. Show less

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  NZ Persimmon Council

  Apr 1994 - Apr 2004

  Director

  NZ Persimmon Industry Council is governed by the Horticultural Export Authority. The HEA Act allows industry groups to implement and control the marketing within its industry.

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  Felkirk Ltd

  Feb 2003 - Oct 2012

  Managing Director

  In 2003, I purchased 40 acres of the family orchard and took over management of 50 acres of leased land and added this to my own 50 acres. The crops we ran included persimmons, apples, pears, specialist melons for Japan (Rouge variety) and strawberries. We developed a citrus block (oranges). At our own packhouse, we packed apples, pears, persimmons, feijoas, squash, melons, strawberries, kiwifruit, mandarins, oranges, lemons, and avocadoes. We also produced quash under contract, and utilised our coolstores in the off-season to grow mushrooms. The orchard was sold in 2012. Show less

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  SKE Ltd

  Jan 2013 - Nov 2018

  I consulted to growers and investors in the following areas:ORCHARD:* Orchard Development* Production* Systems* HarvestPOST HARVEST:* Packhouse design and commissioning* Packing* Packaging* Logistics* Exporting Worked with several growers during the development phase of their new packhouses.Quality Control work for management of Southern Kowhai Exports, on apple exports.

  • Horticultural Consultant

    Feb 2016 - Nov 2018

  • Consultant

    Jan 2013 - Feb 2016
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  CherryPac New Zealand Ltd

  Aug 2014 - Feb 2016

  Packhouse Manager

  I worked with engineers to develop and commission a state-of-the-art, purpose-built cherry packing facility and cool store at Cromwell. My brief was to take fruit quality and acceptance from the bottom of the market to the top. We achieved this by modifying orchard procedures, and utilising new technologies.

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  New Zealand Cherry Partnership

  Apr 2015 - Feb 2016

  Orchard/Packhouse Manager

  The orchard is New Zealand's largest fully netted cherry orchard. It covers 40 hectares and includes a spread of varieties.

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  Ardgour Valley Orchards LP

  Jan 2016 - now

  Co-founder | Project and Orchard Development Manager | Shareholder

  Ardgour Valley Orchards LP is a partnership between Hortinvest and the sheep and beef producers behind Central Otago's Ardgour Station. This orchard will produce new apricot varieties NZ Summer 2, 3 and 4, especially bred for New Zealand conditions by Plant and Food Research’s Clyde site, Central Otago. Cherry production includes a mix of red-fleshed and white-fleshed cherries.

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  Tarras Cherry Corp

  Jan 2016 - Jan 2023

  Orchard and Project Development Manager | Shareholder

  Hortinvest prepared the feasibility study for this group of investors to develop this large cherry orchard in the Cromwell Basin. We advised on cherry varietal selection, orchard planting, irrigation systems and the set up of bird-proof and hail-resistant nets.

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  Hortinvest Limited

  Jul 2016 - now

  Co-founder | Director | Project and Orchard Development Manager

  In 2016, my wife Sharon Kirk and I established Hortinvest Management Limited. I project manage the development and operations for our orchard projects, including Lindis Peaks and Mt Pisa cherry orchards for Deep Creek Fruits NZ LP and Ardgour Valley Orchards for Ardgour Valley Orchards LP. I have extensive packhouse development and management experience including the high-tech Lindis Coolpac packhouse at Tarras, Central Otago, completed in 2023.

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  Pure Pac Ltd

  May 2017 - Mar 2019

  Packhouse Manager

  I project-managed construction of a state-of-the-art, high-tech packhouse and managed operations during the first cherry harvest.

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  Deep Creek Fruits NZ

  Jun 2020 - now

  Co-founder | Project and Orchard and Development Manager | Shareholder

  Deep Creek Fruits NZ LP was established by Hortinvest Management Ltd to consolidate and develop premium cherry orchards at Lindis Peaks and Mt Pisa, Central Otago. The first cherries from these orchards were in the summer of 2021-2022.