New Zealand Chinese Chinese Fruit Shop Research

[NZBC]

Did everyone see this post? Hope some members of this group can help this researcher...
New Zealand Chinese
Chinese Fruit Shop Research now underway for the rest on NZ. Please tell me what fruit shops you remember, and hopefully the names of the proprietors. We need to interview them or their descendants. Looking for those rare photos of the fruit shop displays with people. Please post here or PM me.
Like · Share · 10 February at 08:42

Mary Howan likes this.
Heather Malmo Drew There were a lot of Chinese fruit shops in my home town of Masterton, I remember Wong Nam's, On Hing's, Wongs, and at the end of my street a family set up during the late 1950's in Bunny St but can't remember their name. I am sure Gareth Winter at Masterton Archives would be happy to help you, you can find him through the Council. Good luck
10 February at 09:02 · Like
Greg Lawrence Wong: Cameron St, Whangarei. There was another but can't remember the name. 1960s - 80s I remember but there longer.
10 February at 13:40 · Like
Jenny Bedford In Lyttelton, 80's & 90's there was Chan's fruit shop.
10 February at 22:19 · Like
Jeffrey Pyle CHINESE FRUIT SHOPS IN NEW ZEALAND

Chinese Fruit Shop Research

Chinese Fruit Shops existed in most towns through NZ - I remember at least one in Whangarei as a kid 50 years ago.

Books worth reviewing as a reference.

Sons of the soil : Chinese market gardeners in New Zealand = Huang tu zi si / Lily Lee and Ruth Lam.

Other title: Huang tu zi si.
Authors: Lily Lee, Ruth Lam, Nigel Murphy, Dominion Federation of New Zealand Chinese Commercial Growers.
Publish info: Pukekohe, [N.Z.] : Dominion Federation of New Zealand Chinese Commercial Growers, 2012.
ISBN: 9780473196196 (hbk.)
Description: 556 p. : ill. (some col.) : 31 cm.
Subject: History, Horticulture, Chinese, Horticultural crops, New Zealand
Language: English
Note: Ruth Lam is a local author based in Tuakau, South Auckland. She used to work for the Franklin District Library Trust.
"One of a two-book set on Chinese market gardening in New Zealand. The other book is Success through Adversity: A History of the Dominion Federation of New Zealand Chinese Commercial Growers"--T.p. verso.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Summary: This book travels through each major region where there were communities of Chinese market gardeners. In the growers' own words, the book presents their stories, their experiences and their thoughts on the life of a grower.
Url for this record: search.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/?itemid=|library/marc/supercity-iii|b2694356

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Success through adversity : a history of the Dominion Federation for New Zealand Chinese Commercial Growers = Cheng gong de zi ku han lai / Nigel Murphy.

Other title: Cheng gong de zi ku han lai.
Authors: Nigel Murphy, Dominion Federation of New Zealand Chinese Commercial Growers.
Publish info: Pukekohe, [N.Z.] : Dominion Federation of New Zealand Chinese Commercial Growers Inc, 2012.
ISBN: 9780473196202 (pbk.)
Description: 168 p. : ill. : 30 cm.
Subject: History, Horticulture, Chinese, Horticultural crops, New Zealand
Language: English
Note: "One of a two-book set on Chinese market gardening in New Zealand. The other book is Sons of the soil : Chinese market gardeners in New Zealand "--T.p. verso.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Summary: The Dominion Federation was established in 1943 and since then it has been the representative body of Chinese market gardeners throughout New Zealand. This book covers the Federation's history including its formation, the challenges it has faced and its achievements over the years.
Url for this record: search.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/?itemid=|library/marc/supercity-iii|b2694359

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MAIN RESEARCH PAGE - FRUIT SHOPS

Results in topics for your search 'Fruit shop' - Chinese Digital Community
chinesecommunity.org.nz/.../topics/for/fruit+shop...

ARTICLES - LINKS (These are very interesting and should give you information and possible connections.

S Y C Vineyard - Chinese Digital Community
chinesecommunity.org.nz/.../show/100-s-y-c-vineyard

Greys Avenue and the Auckland Chinese scene from 1890 to 1960s - Chinese Digital Community
chinesecommunity.org.nz/.../42-greys-avenue-and...

Retail and Shopkeepers - Chinese Digital Community
chinesecommunity.org.nz/.../180-retail-and...

From Immigrant to New Zealander - Chinese Digital Community
chinesecommunity.org.nz/.../91-from-immigrant-to...

William Hing (Wong Jook)黃 金竹 - chong - ho family - Chinese Digital Community
chinesecommunity.org.nz/.../31-william-hing-wong-jook

Ehlin Young nee Hing - chong - ho family - Chinese Digital Community
chinesecommunity.org.nz/.../39-ehlin-young-nee-hing

Meilin Chong nee Hing 黃 美 蓮 - chong - ho family - Chinese Digital Community
chinesecommunity.org.nz/.../16-meilin-chong-nee-hing

Wailin Wong Elliott nee Hing 黃 惠 蓮 - chong - ho family - Chinese Digital Community
chinesecommunity.org.nz/.../36-wailin-wong-elliott...

www.archway.archives.govt.nz/FullSeries.do

Certificates of Registration and Poll Tax Registrations - Chinese Digital Community
chinesecommunity.org.nz/.../361-certificates-of...

www.odt.co.nz/.../recipes/279834/what-por-por-knew

Por Por's Cook Book - Chinese Digital Community
chinesecommunity.org.nz/.../443-por-pors-cook-book

Sue Shee. A Woman from Zhong Shan: Her Life and Legacy - Chinese Digital Community
chinesecommunity.org.nz/.../184-sue-shee-a-woman...

Aliens Naturalised in Wellington to 1899 - Chinese Digital Community
chinesecommunity.org.nz/.../300-aliens-naturalised...

www.stuff.co.nz/.../Hutt-sister-in-law...

Dolly Wong - Chinese Digital Community
chinesecommunity.org.nz/.../show/299-dolly-wong

William Wong - Chinese Digital Community
chinesecommunity.org.nz/.../show/281-william-wong

Discovering your community through oral history - Chinese Digital Community
chinesecommunity.org.nz/.../204-discovering-your...

Time to Say Goodbye - Chinese Digital Community
chinesecommunity.org.nz/.../27-time-to-say-goodbye

Chinese in Auckland central isthmus in 1921 and 1945 - Chinese Digital Community
chinesecommunity.org.nz/.../23-chinese-in-auckland...

Chinese residents in early 20th century North Shore - Chinese Digital Community
chinesecommunity.org.nz/.../24-chinese-residents...

Keith Lowe - Chinese Digital Community
chinesecommunity.org.nz/.../show/112-keith-lowe

Charlie Wong May 2004 - Chinese Digital Community
chinesecommunity.org.nz/.../106-charlie-wong-may-2004

My Personal Life Journey - Kai Luey - Luey Hong Sul - Chinese Digital Community
chinesecommunity.org.nz/.../20-my-personal-life...
Yesterday at 05:08 · Unlike · 3
Gregory Coombes In cambridge, during the 60's we had two on the main street. Loyes and Wongs. I worked at Loyes after school in 1974, bagging carrots and spuds in to 5 and 10 kilo bags. Every so often an eldery chinese man who did not speak english would turn up with a piece of watermelon. I was 12, and very happy with some extra pocket money.
Yesterday at 06:11 · Like
Mary Howan Wong Chong in Wellington 1960s.
Yesterday at 07:51 · Like
Mary Howan Leong, Wellington 1950s. Had a son Tony and a daughter Joy.
Yesterday at 07:53 · Edited · Like
Greg Lawrence Wow Jeffrey Pyle that's a heck of a research list. I was also at WBHS mid 60s to early. 70s
Yesterday at 07:53 · Like
Jeffrey Pyle Left 1963 - 5a SC to work of family farms - Kokopu before moving to the Waikato. Also run FB/E-Library-NZ with permanent www.elibrarynz.com link for NZ researchers.
Yesterday at 09:25 · Like · 1

[NZBC]

like this.
Deborah Debson S L Loo, Hunters Corner, Papatoetoe
10 February at 09:59 · Like
Deborah Debson (Proprietor Tom Loo) his story is on page 11 of this link www.papatoetoe150.co.nz/.../PHS%20%20newsletter...
10 February at 09:59 · Like
Claire Falvey Wongs and/or Fongs Market Street, Blenheim. I know there might be some information in a book about Chinese Women in NZ. There is a story about Bikling Fong who was the first Chinese woman in NZ to get a degree. Her family was associated with this fruit/vege shop in Blenhiem. It must have closed in the late 1970's.
10 February at 10:22 · Like
Christine Pointon Joe's in Oamaru, one shop in town also on SH at Alma
10 February at 12:26 · Like
New Zealand Chinese Thank you to every one who have contributed. And thanks for the reference to the Papatoetoe Newsletter from Michelle and Deborah. An interesting story of Thomas Loo.
10 February at 18:14 · Like · 1
Deborah Debson Thanks. Yes Jennifer, Tom's daughter was my very good friend whilst at Primary & Intermediate School, and I spent lots of time after school at their house and would always call into the shop to say hello to her Mum & Dad
10 February at 19:32 · Like
Deborah Debson Also my Mum Ele Scott and her Mum used to always go to the same Chinese Market Gardens in Mangere I thought they may have went there because they had a Fruit & Vege shop in Onehunga that closed down in the early 70's?
10 February at 20:17 · Like
Deborah Debson Ele Scott do you remember their name?
10 February at 20:18 · Like
Ele Scott No There where quite a lot of Chinese market Gardners in Mangere Bridge that sold from road side stalls...
10 February at 20:20 · Unlike · 1
New Zealand Chinese Have you folks read Sons of the Soil - get it from your Library - it's a great read. www.sonsofthesoil.co.nz/
10 February at 20:23 · Like · 1
Gayle Blanch Wongs of Wainoni Rd, Christchurch. No longer there. Had family links in Oamaru. I used to dismantle fruit boxes made of light ply wood with Maurice Wong in about 1964-5 when we were about 9-10yrs old. I was paid in Kiwifruit! But Wong is a hard name to research - might as well be Smith.
10 February at 20:42 · Like
New Zealand Chinese Thanks everyone - would appreciate your assistance in tracking down these people/ or give me some stories to add to their profiles. PM me, as the information may be confidential.
10 February at 20:57 · Like
Kate McEwan There were two Fruit & Vegetable shop's in Queen Street Wainuiomata, one was Foye's I think and the other was Damien Yee

[Phillip Yee]

Ideal Fruit Supplies was a very well known family wholesale and retail fresh fruit and vegetable business in Newtown, Wellington.

It ran for over fifty years by the same family from February 1953 to December 2004.

It was initially started by Ian and his wife Enid Yee .

With the advent of the large supermarkets in New Zealand and hence public’s changing shopping pattern, Ian Yee had the necessary foresight to branch his business out into a wholesaling one.

In a few short years, he was supplying fresh fruit and vegetables to some of the city’s leading hotels and restaurant establishments.

One of his greatest achievements in business was to supply “Bellamys”, the country’s Parliamentary executive restaurant where all the leading politicians dined, with all their fresh fruit and vegetables, for over thirty years!!

Then when Ian and Enid Yee retired in early 1982, the business was taken over by their eldest son Phillip Yee and his wife Sing-Lee. Phillip had already been assisting his father in the business for approximately fourteen years since his leaving school.

Over the next twenty odd years, they further and steadfastly expanded the wholesaling side of their business years supplying many of the city's leading hotels and restaurants, cafes, and caterers until their retirement at the end of December 2004.

Although Ideal Fruit Supplies no longer exists today, it is still fondly remembered by many of the public and their customers, now and in years to come!!

[NZBC]

Thanks Philip

I have passed your comments on to Gordon Wu, who is our Wellington contact. I hope you are still in Wellington. Can you contact me at [e-mail] so we can get your story down?

[Phillip Yee]

Oct 13, 2014 10:27:24 GMT 12 Phillip Yee said:

Ideal Fruit Supplies was a very well known family wholesale and retail fresh fruit and vegetable business in Newtown, Wellington.

It ran for over fifty years by the same family from February 1953 to December 2004.

It was initially started by Ian and his wife Enid Yee .

With the advent of the large supermarkets in New Zealand and hence public’s changing shopping pattern, Ian Yee had the necessary foresight to branch his business out into a wholesaling one.

In a few short years, he was supplying fresh fruit and vegetables to some of the city’s leading hotels and restaurant establishments.

One of his greatest achievements in business was to supply “Bellamys”, the country’s Parliamentary executive restaurant where all the leading politicians dined, with all their fresh fruit and vegetables, for over thirty years!!

Then when Ian and Enid Yee retired in early 1982, the business was taken over by their eldest son Phillip Yee and his wife Sing-Lee. Phillip had already been assisting his father in the business for approximately fourteen years since his leaving school.

Over the next twenty odd years, they further and steadfastly expanded the wholesaling side of their business years supplying many of the city's leading hotels and restaurants, cafes, and caterers until their retirement at the end of December 2004.

Although Ideal Fruit Supplies no longer exists today, it is still fondly remembered by many of the public and their customers, now and in years to come!!