Newspaper Article – Pernel to open apple-visitor centre

Pernel to open apple-visitor centre

By Brian Worthington
Staff reporter, Hastings

A Hastings orchard is to establish New Zealand’s first apple industry visitor information centre to build on Hawke’s Bay’s growing tourism trade.

The $500,000 centre is the brainchild of Hastings growers, David and Philip Mardon, co-owners of Pernel Orchard in Pakowhai Road, and the orchard’s tourism development manager, Chris Gurnsey.

The two-level centre and cafe will give visitors the chance to see a working orchard and pack house in operation during the season as well as static displays about the history of the apple industry throughout the district and where it’s going in the future.

“The cafe will be fruit-related. We want to be unique and not just another road-side cafe. We are sourcing recipes which will use our fruit products,” said Mr Gurnsey.

“Visitors will have the opportunity to buy fruit-related products which would include a variety of Hawke’s Bay-produced juices, fruit wines, ciders and processed apple products. They will be able to sample fresh fruit varieties while relaxing in the centre or outside under the trees in a garden environment.”

Initially the cafe will be unlicensed, Mr Gurnsey said, but it’s an area that will be carefully considered for the future.

“At the moment we have put that to one side because there were a lot of other things to get through first. We will certainly be looking at getting a liquor licence, but in a limited way. Whether its [it’s] just ciders and fruit related-wines or whether its [it’s] a full range we don’t know.”

Also being considered, he said, is the sale of export fruit gift packs. “There is a market but there are a lot of problems involving protocols with other countries. It can be done, but it will take a lot of work,” Mr Gurnsey said.

“We have to be a little bit imaginative on how we present it. We can’t have a very dull classroom atmosphere, its got to an enjoyable experience and where ever possible, interactive, so people can get involved and do things,” he said.

The Mardons are no strangers to tourism. They were involved with Canadian farm tours several years ago and have always had an open gate to school groups and anybody who wanted to look at the operation but there was nothing really structured.

“We see this as a chance to spread the base of our business, which is apple-growing, into showing people what apple-growing in this district is all about; its origins, where we think it’s going and where it is at the moment,” Mr Gurnsey said.

“We see the region’s tourism industry developing very rapidly, and Hawke’s Bay Tourism has been very keen for someone in the district to promote Hawke’s Bay as the fruitbowl of New Zealand. They have approached us on a number of occasions and after a lot of thought we decided to go ahead and expand on what we were already doing.

“Overseas tour operators have said there is a market for this type of operation and judging by the success of Kiwifruit Country in Te Puke, we believe there is a demand for people wanting to see where the apples they pick up in the supermarkets come from and how they are grown, handled and marketed,” he said.

The venture will be completed and open for business in September.

Photo caption – David Mardon