Seeka is asking its permanent employees whether they are interested in taking up an offer of redundancy because of the potential impact of the PSA disease on future kiwifruit crops.
Based in Te Puke, Seeka is the largest kiwifruit grower and post-harvest operator in New Zealand.
Chief executive Michael Franks says the PSA-V disease has now been found in more than half the orchard area supplying the company with gold kiwifruit and 13% of the area of producing green kiwifruit.
He says it's impossible to accurately predict what impact the disease will have on the supply of kiwifruit to its packhouses next year, but PSA-V has the potential to seriously reduce Seeka's income.
Mr Franks says the company has not hired new personnel for some months and won't need as many next year.
He says he's talked with employees about the criteria for being eligible for redundancy and those interested have until 29 September to apply.
The outcome will be announced on 4 October.
