What we do

HortResearch is a world-class fruit science company. We use our unique resources in fruit, plants and environmentally sustainable production systems to produce innovative fruit and food products. We assist industry by developing innovative solutions and future plans.

The most outstanding success of our new variety research so far has been the release of ZESPRI™GOLD kiwifruit. New cultivars of Actinidia arguta (‘baby kiwifruit’) from our breeding programme are set to add another new, more convenient dimension to New Zealand’s kiwifruit products.

There are 800,000 trees of our new crisp apple cultivar ‘Jazz™’ being propagated and grown in New Zealand. Our apple breeders continue to make good progress in combining good eating quality with pest and disease resistance.

The globalisation of HortResearch’s proprietary blueberry cultivars has continued at pace with plants now growing in 18 countries. ‘Nui’ is rated one of the leading tunnel house fresh market cultivars in Europe and ‘Reka’ has become the second most popular processing cultivar in North America’s Pacific Northwest region.

There is also considerable market interest in new crisp-fleshed peaches we have developed.

We protect our new cultivars and products with Plant Variety Rights and patents and by controlling propagation and marketing through licensees.

Some history

HortResearch was formed on 1 July 1992 as one of nine Crown Research Institutes established from several Government departments. We are wholly Government-owned but earn revenue through commercial sources (currently about 40 percent) and from a Government funding process where we obtain funding through a competitive investment process in association with other Crown Research Institutes, universities and agencies.

Where we operate

We have more than 500 staff who work at 10 sites around New Zealand, from Kerikeri in the north to Clyde in the south. At five of these sites we have orchards, which act as outdoor laboratories for research. Our largest site and corporate office is in Mt Albert in Auckland, with around 200 staff.