Wednesday, 18 January 2023 08:25

Summerfruit season starts well

Written by  Staff Reporters
Summerfruit NZ chief executive Kate Hellstrom. Summerfruit NZ chief executive Kate Hellstrom.

The summerfruit season has started well with plenty of high-quality fruit available and a workforce to pick it, according to Summerfruit NZ.

Chief executive Kate Hellstrom says cherry, nectarine, peach and other summerfruit growers are reporting a positive start to the 2022-2023 season.

“Fruit quality is good plus there are more people than last year available to pick the fruit,” she says.

“This is due to the attraction and retention campaigns that the industry has been running for the past few years, and the fact it is easier to enter New Zealand now our borders have been freed up.”

Hellstrom adds that having enough people to pick and pack is vital.

“There is nothing worse for a grower than fruit being left on trees and going to waste, which is the situation some of our growers have been in, in recent years.”

She says the summerfruit workforce is made up of young and older New Zealanders, as well as Working Holiday Visa scheme holders and workers from the Pacific.

“It is heartening that things are looking more positive for this season. Now all we need is the weather to play ball and there to be no bad weather events like hail over the next few weeks.”

In early 2020, the Otago export cherry crop was badly affected by rain and cold temperatures.

Summerfruit export volumes are expected to be higher than last year, but this will be subject to a number of factors – especially the weather.

More like this

New Summerfruit NZ CEO

Dean Smith has been in the role of CEO of Summerfruit NZ for about four months, having succeeded Kate Hellstrom at the end of September.

Summerfruit's mixed bag

The La Nina weather pattern has played a role in determining the fortunes of the summerfruit sector this season.

Featured

Pāmu farm opens gate to urban visitors

For many urban New Zealanders, stepping into Pāmu’s Pinta dairy farm near Taupo last month was the first time they had had the chance to experience farm life up close.

National

New Summerfruit NZ CEO

Dean Smith has been in the role of CEO of Summerfruit NZ for about four months, having succeeded Kate Hellstrom…

Machinery & Products

Ecorobotix announces NZ dealership

Swiss-based Ecorobotix has announced its entry into the New Zealand market through a strategic partnership with Canterbury-based New Zealand Tractors.

Sorting unwashed potatoes made easy

Downs, a leader in potato reception, automated sorting, and storage, has introduced its new high-throughput optical sorter for unwashed potatoes…

Jumbo X saves time and money

A winner of a prestigious ‘Technical Innovations 2024’ award by FederUnacoma at the EIMA show in Italy, the Maschio Jumbo…

NH unveils specialty tractor

New Holland recently showcased its new-generation T4.120 F specialty tractor, giving New Zealand customers a closer look at the winner…

Combining track and tyre

While the last fifty years has seen massive evolution and development of the humble tractor tyre, the last two decades…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Dodgy!

OPINION: If you believe Maori Party president John Tamihere’s claim that “nothing dodgy” occurred at Manurewa Marae during the last…

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter