Jeffery Turner

Biography

Jeffery commenced in the produce industry in 1970 when he joined as one of the fourth generation family members of Turners & Growers Ltd. He worked in various areas of the business including store, sales, transport, imports and exports. From 1974, he spent 10 years as an auctioneer selling various domestic fruit and vegetable lines while maintaining his involvement with the import activities. During this time he also developed his interest in the export business, in which he focused on the onion trade but with participation as well in kiwifruit, strawberries, squash, summerfruit and flowers.

In 1984 Jeffery was appointed General Manager of Turners & Growers Auckland, responsible particularly for the domestic and import parts of the business. Then in 1987 he was appointed a Director of Turners & Growers Ltd and Turners Auctions Ltd as well as General Manager of the group's Fresh Sector which included the nation-wide domestic markets, imports and transport. Responsibility for the export division was added in 1990 and that same year he was appointed Chairman of both Fruit Distributors Ltd and Fruit Case Company Ltd. Following a major restructuring of the group which saw the merging of some 18 separate companies nation-wide, Jeffery was appointed Managing Director of Turners & Growers Fresh Ltd which handled the group's total fresh produce business.