New Zealand’s largest organic apple grower is going the extra mile to educate employees about healthy eating, serving up daily organic meals for hundreds of staff. Bostock has significantly invested in a new purpose built organic kitchen where staff can enjoy premium organic meals.
Bostock New Zealand owner, John Bostock says he has always had a vision to teach his employees about healthy eating and show them that tasty, wholesome food is better for them and just as affordable as processed, fast food. “We are strongly committed to the well-being of all our staff. We are a country that has major issues with poor diet, obesity and sugar, but we can change this giving people opportunities to learn new, exciting and interesting ways to eat healthily. By taking away the cost barrier, we hope we will start changing eating habits,” says Bostock.
He adds: “We grow our own organic, premium produce and we are now using this in our organic kitchen. We need to ‘walk the walk’ and create a healthy ethos inside our company so everyone who works at Bostock New Zealand in Hastings can take this home to their families and show that ‘we are what we eat’ – that nutritious food creates a healthier lifestyle.”
Bostock employs up to 600 people in the height of the season and staff are welcome to dine at the Bostock Organic Kitchen, where a top chef has been employed to dish up wholesome cooked meals for the masses – all of which are subsidised and on occasions free.
Bostock grows, packs and markets high quality squash, onions, grain and organic apples and also partly owns Bostock Organic Free Range Chicken – all produce, which is staple on the Organic Kitchen’s daily menu.
The first official guest at the Bostock Organic Kitchen was the Governor General who cut the ribbon and enjoyed an organic lunch with Bostock staff. Sir Jerry Mateparae also presented a number of service awards to long serving employees who have worked for the company for over thirty years.