CASE STUDY_SUNFOREST-LANDKIND APP INTEGRATION IN KIWIFRUIT INDUSTRY IN NEW ZEALAND

Introduction
This case study delves into the operations of Western Orchards, a kiwifruit post-harvest, management, and contracting company based in Katikati, New Zealand. The study examines how Western Orchards uses Landkind and Sunforest to optimize their processes, save money and make better decisions. This document uncovers how Landkind and Sunforest combine to enable Western Orchards to overcome challenges and achieve better returns for their customers in the kiwifruit industry.

Benefits of Our Technology for Western Orchards
Western Orchards have realized significant benefits from implementing this technology, including financial gains, process efficiency, and a clearer understanding of their fruit maturity across their portfolio. Western Orchards have highlighted several tangible advantages of using the technology; this includes:
Reduced Spending on Destructive Clearance Testing
By utilizing Landkind, Western Orchards has achieved substantial savings by reducing the frequency of destructive clearance tests. These tests can incur costs of up to NZD$800 and necessitate the destruction of 60 fruits. Western Orchards has increased their test pass rate by employing the Sunforest device for preliminary testing and only proceeding with destructive maturity tests when there is a high confidence of passing. In the past season, Western Orchards estimate that they have cut their testing requests by 50%, and that this has facilitated savings of up to NZD$20,000.
Furthermore, by capturing quality readings with the Sunforest, Western Orchards can conduct more frequent and numerous samplings but without the high costs and wait times. By utilizing their Sunforest device instead of lab testing, Western Orchards can test an orchard and feed the results back to owners within 2 hours, instead of waiting 2 days for a lab test, and without the associated cost.
“We are now aware of what is happening on orchard without the need for destructive testing”