On the ground help for impacted apple growers

Apples and Pears NZ (A&PNZ) has secured funding to the tune of $114,000 from the Ministry for Primary Industries, which will be used to help take some of the stress out of the work setting up orchards in coming weeks.

A&PNZ's market access manager Danielle Adsett is heading up the initiative, which is directed at orchardists who are growing a crop for the 2024 season. She says there are about 80 orchardists who have suffered damage due to the cyclone. This initiative is designed to assist them with such things as leaf and soil testing and compliance issues. It may also include helping these growers to get their Grow Safe certification.

Adsett says the aim of the project is to make a difference and relieve some of the pressure that growers are under.

"It is likely that some people will be a little bit stretched because they had no income last year or are suffering in terms of mental health and wellbeing," she told Hort News.

"It's a huge burden managing their way through the problems of Gabrielle, without having to deal with compliance issues. This project is about helping them to complete all these requirements and get on with managing their crops."

Adsett says some of the larger orchards may not need help because they have the resources to manage such issues. She adds that it's likelly to be the smaller 'mum and dad' operations who will need help.

"In the case of the smaller operators, they are not just the grower - but they are also the business planner, the compliance manager, health and safety manager and the training manager to name some of the tasks they have to undertake."

The actual on-the-ground work will be coordinated by A&PNZ, but will draw on help from local consultants, contractors with specialist knowledge and the expertise of Plant and Food Research.

Adsett believes the project will make a difference to many people who have been through hard times, which are still not over.

"The tide is coming in as we head into spring. It's too early to tell how good bud burst will be and we still don't know how these trees are going to bounce back as they come out of dormancy," she adds.

"However, regardless of how the trees perform, orchardists still have to ensure their systems are up-to-date and in place, and this is very special."