What is required to be a Kiwifruit Contractor

You are here because you are looking to work as a Contractor in the Kiwifruit Industry. 

Zespri International Ltd ("Zespri") runs a Good Agricultural Practice ("GAP") and GLOBALG.A.P. Risk Assessment on Social Practice ("GRASP") Programme which is certified to the GLOBALG.A.P. standard. This Programme includes assessing orchard management systems and the activities that are undertaken on orchards.

Before you apply to register as a Contractor with Zespri, it is important that you have read the following and understand all of the requirements you are agreeing to meet.

If you intend to provide any of the following activities and services on kiwifruit orchards that provide fruit to Zespri:

1. spray application

2. fertilizer application

3. vine-work, including harvest, pruning and other canopy work

then prior to commencing any work on-orchard you must:

• apply to register (and be accepted) as a Contractor with Zespri,

• develop documents and records that demonstrate your systems are working and fully meet the requirements of GAP and GRASP,

• successfully complete an inspection with a Zespri approved inspector, and

• hold a current Compliance Assessment Verification ("CAV").

Contractor Obligations 

If you are granted registration as a Contractor, you must:

• be registered with Zespri as a Contractor, and always keep this registration up-to-date, including notifying Zespri immediately of any changes to the details provided on this form or otherwise, and providing information when requested by Zespri.

• be inspected against the orchard activities that you take part in.

• ensure that all requirements, as set by legislation, are met, specifically with regards to food safety, health & safety, employment and tax obligations.

• have transparent systems and accurate record-keeping in place for all aspects of your business.

• be able to demonstrate that your systems are understood and have been fully implemented, and provide records to support this.

• hold a current CAV issued by an approved inspector.

• always have a copy of your CAV with you when you are working on any orchard, to provide a copy to any grower whose orchard you work on.

• have your systems and processes inspected annually by a Zespri-approved inspector.

• be available for additional inspections, as requested by Zespri or your Zespri-approved inspector, and co-operate in the inspection process - including allowing your employees to speak with the inspector.

• declare if your business, or anyone employed in your business, is under investigation by a government authority (for example, the Labour Inspectorate)

• comply with the Zespri Supplier Code of Conduct, and immediately notify Zespri if you become aware of any breach or likely breach of the Supplier Code of Conduct. 

Unsuccessful Application to Register

If an application for Registration is declined, Zespri may notify growers, industry bodies (including Kiwifruit NZ, NZ Kiwifruit Growers Incorporate and Kiwifruit Vine Health Incorporated) or other affected parties of the rejection including by listing the name of the Contractor and related persons on the Contractor Register, on Zespri Website(s) and on other communications.

Cancellation of Registration and/or CAV 

Zespri has the right to cancel your registration and associated CAV if you breach or fail to meet any of the Contractor obligations set out above.  You will not hold Zespri responsible for any loss of business or reputation damage that arises following any cancellation of your registration; or revocation or suspension of your CAV.

Zespri will publish a list of registered Contractors, and each Contractor's CAV status on Zespri's public website.  If a Contractor's registration is cancelled, or if a Contractor's CAV is suspended or cancelled, Zespri may notify growers, industry bodies (including Kiwifruit NZ, NZ Kiwifruit Growers Incorporate and Kiwifruit Vine Health Incorporated) or other affected parties of the cancellation or suspension including by listing the name of the Contractor and related persons on the Contractor Register, on Zespri Website(s) and on other communications.

Note: Zespri does not guarantee that by being a registered Contractor that the Contractor will be contracted to provide kiwifruit services.

Change of Ownership or Control

Please note that registration as a Contractor cannot be transferred to a third party without Zespri's consent (any change of ownership or control of a Contractor will be deemed a transfer to a third party).

Privacy

By submitting a Contractor application, registering, and maintaining your registration, as a Contractor, you agree that:

• you have read and understood:
  • Zespri's GlobalGAP Contractor Application Terms
  • Zespri's GlobalGAP Contractor Program Privacy Statement; and
  • Zespri’s Global Privacy Statement
• you and your key persons and staff consent to the collection, use and sharing of personal information by Zespri and its authorised representatives, and to Zespri and its authorised representatives making inquiries into your trading activities, as set out in the Zespri GlobalGAP Contractor Application Terms and Privacy Statements   

You consent to any enquiries by Zespri or its authorised representatives into your trading activities, or any other relevant information, as part of the process for making a decision about your registration or maintenance of your registration as a Contractor.

Other Contractor Types

Other contractors are not required to register at this time. If you are unsure if you need to register, please contact compliance.mail@zespri.com or 0800 549 440.

Our Contractor Programme Terms and Global Privacy Statement can be found here.