About Kim Baker - Managing Director, CoralTree Organic Products

Hi, my name is Kim Baker. 20 years ago, I bought an apple orchard in Levin, called “The Coral Tree”. I had been interested in organics for many years and done a number of bio-dynamic growing courses, so took the opportunity to convert “The Coral Tree” to organics. At this time organics was very much a “fringe” activity, that few people believed could be viable financially. In particular, organic apple production was not considered to be a goer. The main problems with growing apples organically, were black spot control and codlin moth. Neither of these problems affect the volume or quality of fruit, but both affect the appearance, making the apples less saleable. So after a couple of years of producing apples, I decided to try to minimise the waste and look into my options for processing. Making apple cider vinegar was a good option, mainly because people who used it, used it as a health tonic and there where no other organically certified cider vinegars on the market at that time. I felt that I could fill a gap by producing a high quality vinegar that fulfilled peoples need for a healthy tonic that was not damaging the environment.

Twenty years later, I am still committed to maintaining a high quality organic product, with little carbon footprint, produced in an ethical business manner. As volumes have grown, I have needed to source extra apples from other organic apple growers, so I was able to assist a number of growers on the Kapiti Coast to convert to organic production and now buy apples from them to maintain the high quality and integrity that we are known for.