Farming was all Southland couple Brooke and Karl Woolsey had ever known. As shareholder managers of a large sheep, beef and dairy operation, growing kiwifruit in the Bay of Plenty couldn’t have been further from their minds.
But the couple found themselves looking for a new challenge in 2022, and before long, they were purchasing a 22-hectare property south of Katikati.
“We knew absolutely nothing about kiwifruit. We had no idea what we were getting into,” Brooke admits.
Kiwifruit stood out because of the returns it could generate per hectare. Rather than buying an established orchard, Karl says they deliberately chose a development property.
“We were looking at something that we could add value to rather than going into a full production orchard. We were young and had the energy to put into it.”
Apart from a small block of relatively new vines, the property had to be developed from scratch. “In the first week that we were here we had diggers, dozers and all sorts of things going on. We cleared a heap of land and now we’ve developed just over six canopy hectares of Hayward Green.”
For Brooke, the reality of starting again was, at times, confronting.
“In 2022 it rained all year. I stood in the kitchen looking out over our new orchard thinking, ‘What have we done?’ There were lots of tears, but we wouldn’t look back now. We love it.”
As newcomers to the industry, the Woolseys leaned heavily on a long-time family friend who had established a large kiwifruit business in the Bay of Plenty. When it came to choosing a packhouse, his advice was simple.
“Of all the packhouses he deals with, he recommended Mpac because of their service, their care and the way it’s like a big family company,” Brooke says.
That recommendation was quickly reinforced through their relationship with Mpac Grower Representative Katrina Targett.
“You need someone who’s going to give you guidance and actually wants to see you succeed. That’s exactly what Katrina does. She’s amazing. She takes the time to explain things and show you what to do, making sure you actually understand.”
The Woolseys also appreciate the way Mpac keeps growers informed and connected through regular events and thoughtful touches that make them feel like a valued part of the business.
Three years on, the couple say they’d never go back to farming.
“We can now go away for a summer holiday. We would never have been able to do that on the farm. It’s a whole lifestyle change,” Brooke explains.
“I’m proud that we backed ourselves and made it through those early years. We knew it was going to be tough having no income coming in for so long, but it’s been worth it. I look out in front of our house and what used to be a big motocross track is now this beautiful canopy. We can say, ‘We’ve done that.’ “We’re still learning every season, but we’re excited about what the future holds and feel like we’ve found exactly where we’re meant to be.”