Pacific Fruits Limited was established in 1954 by Malakai Vea Mahina supplying Japan with Pineapple and in the late 80's shipping Taro and similar species to New Zealand.Malakai Vea Mahina was a Farmer/Planter of most, and if not all South Pacific fruits. The traditions of Malakai's methods of planting/growing produce have been handed down form generation to generation and will continue to do so for many years to come.After the passing of Malakai Vea Mahina, Tuakifa Lelei Mahina (1st Son) had taken over the ownership of the business and had appointed his youngest brother Vaea Mahina as the Manager to run and manage all the Growing and daily duties of the plantation.Vaea Mahina had managed the plantation from the early 90's to late 2012 after passing from heart failure working as a picker in Australia to learn new methods of farming to help farmers in Tonga with new skills to grow berries and other produce that could be grown in South Pacific climate.After the passing of Vaea Mahina, Pacific Fruits Limited appointed Siaki Sii Mahina as Director alongside his father Tuakifa Lelei Mahina for the company to build the working environment and inject steady flow of income for the workers to help economic struggle in the community of Tefisi (Tonga).Siaki Sii Mahina has projected that in the next 12 Months, Tongan Office will have 30 Full time staff and New Zealand 8 Full time staff, which he hopes to double after another 12 Months.Siaki Sii Mahina has also set up an after school programme that will commence in November for students who are interested to study agriculture and help earn their school funding for books etc.Pacific Fruits Limited believe that the community, not only in Tonga but the whole of the Pacific group, need a fresh start and a chance to grow and expand its well preserved skills of farming wonderful produce to share with the world.
