Baygold Kicks Off 2026 With Community at the Heart
Baygold started the year with its annual Team Kick Off Day
Across our orchards, in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, our teams worked tirelessly to bring in the company’s biggest ever crop, breaking records and setting the bar high for the seasons ahead.
A Season of Scale and Skill
Harvest began early on 6 March, one of the first pick-starts in the region. Over just eight weeks, Baygold’s crews picked and packed 4,185,519 trays of kiwifruit, the most in company history. On our busiest day, 16 April, the team harvested an incredible 3,654 bins. Altogether, more than 190 million pieces of fruit were picked, packed, and delivered at peak quality.
This record harvest was the result of meticulous planning, mature vines coming into full production, and a renewed focus on efficiency and teamwork. With more than 69,000 bins harvested across Baygold’s own and client orchards, a 49% increase on 2024, the results speak volumes. Each orchard played its part, from the thriving canopies of Frontier and Pokare to the expanding developments at MacDougall and Whitiroa.
Precision for Premium Results
Beyond the numbers, timing was everything. More than half of Baygold’s crop entered the Kiwistart window (56%), securing premium early-season payments, while another 30% was carefully selected for controlled atmosphere (CA) storage. This balance ensured the best possible Orchard Gate Returns (OGR) for growers and investors alike, reinforcing Baygold’s reputation for both scale and smart strategy.
Success at Baygold isn’t just about fruit volume but about people and purpose. Behind every bin of kiwifruit stands a world class team whose skill, communication, and care ensure safety, quality, and pride in the final product.
The People Behind the Harvest
The heart of the 2025 season lay in its people. Over 180 Recognised Seasonal Employees (RSEs) from Vanuatu and Fiji joined the Baygold family, many returning year after year. Their hard work powered the picking season and supported pruning and preparation for the next cycle. Baygold continues to lead the industry in worker wellbeing, providing nutritious dinners and a supportive environment that fosters lasting change for the communities its RSEs represent.
Sustaining Growth for the Future
As the last trays were packed, attention turned to what’s next. Plans are already in motion for an even bigger harvest in 2026, with major developments such as the MacDougall Orchard Project – a 94-hectare canopy development designed with wetlands, native planting, and sustainability at its core. Baygold’s forward-thinking approach demonstrates how commercial horticulture and environmental care can thrive side by side.
Growing Greatness Together
From the orchards to the packhouses, from local communities to international markets, Baygold’s 2025 harvest stands as a testament to what can be achieved through teamwork, vision, and care for the land. As Carl Simmons put it, “Our story is always bigger than kiwifruit, it’s about people, purpose, and the impact we can create together.”
