Name: Lon Wheeler, Market Services Manager
Mobile: 027 212 5610
Email: lon.wheeler@satara.co.nz
Lon's career in the kiwifruit industry began years ago in Te Puke - working on an orchard. Five years on, he was managing New Zealand's first kiwifruit syndicate also based in TePuke, with its own pack-house and coolstore operation. A series of four mergers occurred while he managed the Satara operation in Totara St (then Mt Cool). Lon's involvement with local market for kiwifruit and avocados came in 1996 which saw him take his expertise from 'soil to sale'. He enjoys the relationships that he has built up over the years with exporters throughout New Zealand's main centres and overseas in Australia.
"It's been satisfying to see the Satara branded kiwifruit overseas in Australian wholesale markets" says Lon. "And the strong relationship with supermarket chain Coles in Australia has been particularly pleasing." His involvement with avocados too has seen a little known fruit gradually increase in both local and export markets.
