Print this page

Wednesday, 14 July 2021 06:55

New Summerfruit NZ chair

Written by Staff Reporters

font size decrease font size increase font size

Roger Brownlie

Summerfruit NZ's new chair says the biggest problems facing growers are the ongoing labour shortage and the difficulty getting produce to overseas markets due to the logistics crisis caused by Covid-19.

Roger Brownlie took over from Tim Jones at the organisation's recent AGM. He hails from Hawke's Bay and runs an orchar in partnership with his wife.

They grow a range of summerfruit including apricots, nectarines, cherries, and a few apples. At the peak of the season, they employ about 30 staff to pick and pack their crop.

Brownlie says at some time in the near future there will be a bumper season for summerfruit out of the South Island, which will need extra labour and good logistics to get to market. He says the sector will be focusing on working collaboratively with HortNZ to get a positive response on these issues from government.

More like this

New Summerfruit NZ CEO

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.

Mixed season for summerfruit

Mixed season for summerfruit

It has been another mixed season for the country's summerfruit growers.

Cherry crop earlier than usual

This year's Central Otago cherry picking season looks like being about a week earlier than usual.

Summerfruit's mixed bag

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

Summerfruit season starts well

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

Popular Reads

Ex-All Black Sam Whitelock Swaps Rugby for Dairy Farming

Returning to the family dairy farm after playing 20 years of professional rugby around the world is no easy task.

Agricultural Vehicle Rule Changes Welcomed by Rural Contractors NZ

Rural Contractors NZ says proposed changes to land transport rules for agricultural vehicles are a welcome response by the Government…

Fonterra CFO Andrew Murray Resigns

Fonterra Co-operative Group chief financial officer Andrew Murray has resigned to take up a role outside the dairy giant.

Breckenridge to Lead Lactalis Australia

Global dairy giant Lactalis has integrated its Australian operations with the Mainland Dairy consumer business it acquired from Fonterra earlier…

Beef + Lamb NZ Inc Marks 40 Years of Red Meat Marketing

Beef + Lamb New Zealand Incorporated (BLNZ Inc) is marking 40 years of promoting red meat to New Zealand consumers,…

Featured

MastaPlex Names Dr Matt Dobbs Independent Director

Dunedin-based company MastaPlex, which provides on-farm mastitis diagnostic platform globally, has named a new independent director.

Importer: Fertiliser Security Policy Must Include All Players

An independent importer says National’s fertiliser security policy will only work if protects all players.

Tractor fires: Nests Behind Almost A Third of FMG Claims

Nesting birds are behind around $1.2 million worth of tractor fire claims every year, according to rural insurer FMG, which is urging farmers to check under the bonnet before starting work.

Ravensdown Named Canterbury A&P Show Sponsor

Having Ravensdown as the naming rights sponsor of the Canterbury A&P Show demonstrates their confidence in the show as a long-term venture, says Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association (CAPA) board chair Sir David Carter.

Editorial: Red, Green or Orange?

OPINION: As election day looms, rural NZ seems to have pressed the pause button – held somewhat in limbo on an orange light.

Can Drones Destroy Hornet Nests?

Will drones be the answer to tackling the problem of wasp and hornet nests high up in trees and other inaccessible places?

National

Order Early, Check the Label: NZPork’s Christmas Ham Advice

NZPork says a ham made in New Zealand is not necessarily made from New Zealand pork.

Tractor Weight Rules NZ: Contractors Welcome Reform

Rural Contractors NZ says proposed changes to land transport rules for agricultural vehicles are a welcome response by the Government…

NZ Methane Rules: Can Biozest Cut Emissions Without Culls?

With New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions in the spotlight, Auckland scientist Nathan Balasingham says there’s a better way to tackle…

Massey Aims To Be the Primary Sector’s University Partner

Massey University vice chancellor Pierre Venter says his institute is moving from a period of austerity into a growth phase,…

Lockwood Smith: Red Meat Needs More Product Research

With the red meat sector going through a boom time with high prices, the time is right for the industry…

Machinery & Products

Massey Ferguson to Add Compact Tractors in ITL partnership

Massey Ferguson has announced a strategic supply partnership with International Tractors Limited (ITL), a manufacturer of low-horsepower and compact tractors,…

Case IH Wins EIMA Award for Optum Suspension System

With the biannual Italian EIMA machinery Expo less than a month away, Case IH has taken out a Technical Evolution…

Agrifac Hybrid Sprayer Expected to Cut Fuel Use by 35%

Becoming the norm in the automobile industry, but much less so in agriculture, Dutch self-propelled sprayer manufacturer Agrifac has developed…

MF 7S Mark 2: New 170-245hp Tractor Range Unveiled

Building on the success of the existing Massey Ferguson 7S series, ahead of the upcoming EIMA Show, the manufacturer has…

Landpower Opens New CLAAS Harvest Centre in Feilding

At a time when many businesses are taking a cautious investment approach, Landpower continues to back its customers, having officially…