TAURANGA, 29 July 2019: Kiwifruit and avocado growers who pack their fruit with DMS Progrowers Ltd have banded together to raise an incredible
$186,675 for Western Bay charities including a six figure sum for Waipuna Hospice.
The DMS Progrowers Charitable Trust was formed last year to support local community organisations and their inaugural
grants have just been announced. Growers voluntarily contributed one or two cents per tray of fruit to the new trust,
and the money raised was then matched by DMS Progrowers Ltd, doubling the size of the overall contribution to local
charities.
“In recent years the kiwifruit industry has not only recovered from the effects of Psa but has had remarkable earnings
growth,” explains Craig Greenlees, joint Managing Director of DMS Progrowers Ltd.
“It is absolutely appropriate to enjoy that prosperity given the turbulence in recent years. However, it is also
appropriate to acknowledge that at this time when we are doing so well financially, that is not true for all of New
Zealand and many members of our communities require help.”
Waipuna Hospice will receive $70,000 to help fund night nurse salaries while the Waipuna Hospice Foundation will get a
further $50,000 towards the long-term development of services. EmpowermentNZ (who run Te Puke’s Food Bank service), will
receive $35,000; the Katikati Innovative Horticulture Trust is being given $10,000; Katikati’s Community Centre gets
$5000 and Te Aranui Trust & Police Youth Development team receive $5,000 towards their work with at-risk youth. The final $10,000 raised will be
held in reserve.
Waipuna Hospice’s Director of Marketing and Fundraising, Sasima Pearce, says her colleagues were “overwhelmed and
humbled” by such a large donation. “It is extremely generous of those growers at DMS Progrowers to donate an amount per
tray to us. It is such a progressive idea from a progressive group of people. We are very excited about the DMS
Progrowers Charitable Trust as it builds and grows in years to come.”
Pearce says Waipuna’s on-call ‘night nurse’ service has become busier in recent years but was an important service to
maintain. It allows patients to remain in their own homes and avoid emergency department admissions. “We are also
investigating use of these funds towards a new community nurse shift to bridge the period after 5pm to about midnight,”
she says.
The $50,000 donation to the Waipuna Hospice Foundation will be invested to provide future financial security and ensure
the organisation can meet growing community demands.
Andre Hickson, chair of the DMS Progrowers Charitable Trust, says the five trustees agreed to focus on two core groups
when considering which charities to donate to – general care for all ages and demographics, and then children and
families in need. “Our aim is to assist in strengthening the community and attempting to break cycles,” he says.
The charities were chosen based on advice from the Acorn Foundation and charities in Katikati and Te Puke were given
special attention as that’s where most DMS growers live.
“This first year is a small step and my challenge is for all DMS growers to lead the way,” Hickson says. “This is an
investment in all aspects by growers in the future but instead of R and Psa, it is this time about community and social outcomes.
“We have learned as an industry that working as a larger group, we are able to achieve greater outcomes.”
About DMS Progrowers
Based in Tauranga, DMS is a leading kiwifruit and avocado orchard management and post-harvest operator. Established in
1989 by Craig Greenlees and Paul Jones, DMS manages over 100 orchards and has over 100 full-time staff, employing
another 1,000 plus seasonal contractors and workers in Te Puna and Te Puke. DMS is a member of the G4 Kiwifruit Group,
which provides 32% of Zespri's Class One crop. Locally owned and operated, DMS’ brand promise is “Increasing Grower
Profit.”
ends