Two kiwifruit packing companies Satara and Eastpack will merge next week, as the industry consolidates in the face of the damage done by the vine disease PSA.
In a second vote, 88% of Satara's growers have backed the merger - which Eastpack's growers and all other groups within Satara had already voted in favour of.
They will amalgamate under the name EastPack, handling between 25 and 27 million trays of kiwifruit this season.
The merger will result in several Satara kiwifruit packing sites in Bay of Plenty being mothballed and more modern sites used, which the companies say will increase efficiencies during a difficult time for the industry.
PSA has reduced kiwifruit volumes by 22% in the past two years.
