Foreign investors received permission from the New Zealand Foreign Investment Authority to purchase two garden plots after they were refused last year in connection with an offer to buy a fruit garden with kiwi and avocado.

Craigmore Sustainables received permission to buy 479 hectares of land inside Waipukurau at Hawkes Bay and 59 hectares near Gisborne. The company invests 52 million dollars in the development of apple orchards at the facilities.

In total, investments in these two facilities are expected to create 100 jobs and increase exports by $ 30 million. The total value of New Zealand exports of apples and pears last year amounted to $ 745 million, and this year - up to $ 830 million.

Hawks Bay is currently used for cultivation, livestock and grazing. Craigmore Sustainables intends to turn 130 hectares of land used for barley and corn into an apple orchard. Apple varieties will be a mixture of traditional and new varieties, and it will take about five years before the orchard reaches full production.

Investors in Craigmore Sustainables are Hong Kong (29.87%), Germany (29.05%), United Kingdom (28.49%), Finland (6.81%), USA (3.52%) and New Zealand (1, 72%).