Ardgour Valley Fruit near Tarras, Central Otago, New Zealand, has been placed on the market by liquidators, with a deadline sale set for October 20. The 48.03-hectare orchard, co-founded in 2020 by Ross and Sharon Kirk alongside farmers Bruce and Linda Jolly, was planted with a mix of apricots and cherries.
The orchard was managed by the Kirks' company, Hortinvest Holdings, on behalf of 16 shareholders and featured some of New Zealand's first NZ Summer apricot varieties. In 2022, Ardgour Valley Fruit completed construction of a new packhouse at Tarras. During the 2025 summer season, approximately 150 tons of apricots were exported under the Temptation Valley brand.
The trees, now in their fourth growing season, were projected to reach full production between 2026 and 2027, when output was expected to rise to around 500 tons for export.
Liquidators Diana Matchett and Colin Gower were appointed on August 10, and the property is being marketed by PGG Wrightson. The sale includes three frost-fighting machines and an eight-bay packing shed.
In their first report on August 15, the liquidators said shareholders and limited partners had resolved to place both the company and limited partnership into liquidation due to unsustainable trading losses and continued cashflow challenges.
Hortinvest Holdings had also been managing two other large orchards in Central Otago for Deep Creek Fruits until the end of August. Deep Creek operates separately with its own shareholders and manages two of the region's largest cherry orchards, 51,150 trees across eight varieties at Mt Pisa and 49,589 trees at Lindis Peaks.
The Kirks are no longer listed on the Deep Creek website, and Sharon Kirk stepped down as director on July 31. Kevin Jarvis of Wānaka was appointed as a new director on September 10.
According to the Companies Office, Ross Kirk has since relocated to the Marlborough Sounds. Google Business lists Hortinvest Holdings as permanently closed, with a message on its website reading: "We sincerely thank our clients, partners, and supporters for being part of our journey and our story."
Ross Kirk previously served as development and operations manager at Deep Creek Fruits, while Sharon Kirk was responsible for international sales and marketing.
Source: Central App
