Bruce and Shirley Farley with Natalie Grujesic, grower relationship manager at Punchbowl.

New Zealand’s 2024 kiwifruit harvest has kicked off with the first crop picked in Auckland, and more kiwifruit to be picked around New Zealand over the coming months.

Some growers have planted vegetable crops like squash to improve the fertility of the soil, with a view to planting new apple trees in the future.

NZ Apples and Pears market manager Danielle Adsett says Hawke’s Bay lost 610 hectares of apple trees out of a total of 6500 hectares.

NZ Apples and Pears market access manager Danielle Adsett says the growing conditions in spring and summer have been near perfect.

Despite the terrible ravages of Cyclone Gabrielle and other adverse weather events, the 2024 apple crop in Hawke's Bay is set to one of the best crops the region has seen for a number of years. Peter Burke reports.

Nicola Grigg says she was excited when she got a call from Christopher Luxon asking her to take on the portfolios of Horticulture and also Associate Trade.

The new Minister of Horticulture, Nicola Grigg, says the reason that she came into Parliament was because of her interest in and commitment to agriculture.

Zespri CEO Dan Mathieson.

NZKGI chief executive Colin Bond has paid tribute to the contribution that departing Zespri CEO Dan Mathieson has made to the kiwifruit industry.

Southern Fruits International expects to send up to 340 tonnes of luxury cherries to the global market this summer.

New Zealand cherry producer Southern Fruits International expects to send up to 340 tonnes of luxury cherries to the global market this summer - just over double that of the volume sent last year.

Sharon Kirk says new apricot varieties especially bred to give the NZ industry a shot in the arm are looking “amazing” in their first full commercial season.

New apricot varieties especially bred to give the New Zealand industry a shot in the arm are looking “amazing” in their first full commercial season, says grower Sharon Kirk.

Kate Trufitt is six months into her role as Potatoes New Zealand chief executive.

Six months into the Potatoes New Zealand chief executive role and Kate Trufitt has embraced the challenges and opportunities with enthusiasm.

Dan Mathieson

Zespri chief executive Dan Mathieson will leave the grower-owned company later this year.

Fresh produce growers need to consider safe food practices a necessary step in the cost of doing business, delegates at the recent International Fresh Produce Association Australia and New Zealand (IFPA A-NZ) second annual Food Safety Summit heard.

Latest research by agri banking specialist Rabobank and food rescue charity KiwiHarvest says NZ households are spending significantly more on food amid continually changing purchasing and consumption behaviours.

Global demand for the Envy apple brand means the first commercially produced Chinese variety of the apple is now being sold in China.

Hort NZ chair Barry O'Neil says food supply and security is fundamental to New Zealand's future.

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