Environment
JB Organics works in partnership with nature to produce healthy and delicious organic fruit, while using sustainable organic practices to protect our land for future generations.
Our growers are all certified by BioGro NZ, which is accredited by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM), and aim to improve long-term soil structure and fertility, encourage biological cycles, maintain genetic diversity, avoid pollution, and cycle organic matter and nutrients within the production system.
It’s not to say that organic production isn’t challenging and in New Zealand we have additional specific challenges such as native pests that hinder our orcharding. However, we continue to champion organic research and development to solve our key pest and disease issues while embracing new technologies that enhances fruit quality even further. The result of all of these efforts is pure organic fruit with an excellent taste, appearance and storage life.
JB Organics is regularly involved in industry studies that focus on improving our carbon and water footprints and will pro-actively adopt new technologies that are proven to achieve this. In addition, our orchards have taken part in large-scale energy efficiency projects in a bid to find new ways to improve industry practices.
Some examples of our sustainability initiatives include:
- Native plantings around the orchards to create biodiversity and attract beneficial insects, as well as to create shade and shelter for native birds, insects and our many workers.
- Tree planting programme in Vanuatu covering 25 hectares to help offset carbon usage
- Investment in fuel-efficient tractors with built-in GPS and computer-assisted running programmes to ensure maximum output with minimum environmental impact.
- Recycling and waste management are a high priority, with bi-products reused to create other products such as stock feed.
- Annual applications of compost and mulching to increase soil organic matter. Over the past 10 years soil organic matter levels have doubled on our properties. As well as being a measure of improving soil health, this is important to carbon sequestration and the soil’s ability to hold water, meaning less water use and subsequent loss.
Every decision JB Organics makes across all areas of our business, needs to ensure we are meeting John Bostock’s founding company principle: “We must protect the land and leave it better than we arrived”