The thank you came in the shape of just over a tonne of freshly picked Central Otago stonefruit, which volunteers for rural wellbeing charity AG Proud handed out to workers at Silver Fern Farms’ Finegand freezing works.
About 30 volunteers picked the surplus fruit from the Clyde orchard of Trevor and Lyn Newton yesterday morning, before driving it to the plant and surprising workers such as beef slaughterman Nathan Baldwin, who had just come off shift, with the free handout.
Mr Baldwin, of Kaitangata, said he was pleased workers’ contributions were being recognised.
"It’s a really cool gesture, giving something back like this.
"It was a bit surreal working on through Covid last year, but what else is there to do when you’re needed, but keep on going?"
He filled a bag with peaches and nectarines, but joked his favourite stonefruit was sadly absent.
"It’s a pity there are no cherries, but who’s complaining?"
Group spokesman Hamish Bielski, of Clinton, said that the event was one of several which were occurring at factories throughout the South this week and next, inspired by AG South’s positive aims
of bringing urban and rural people together in a spirit
of good will.
"We’re so thankful to all our factory workers for carrying on through Covid, when they risked their own livelihoods to keep the nation moving.
"They’re truly the unsung heroes of New Zealand."
