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Andrew Watters.
MyFarm has bought a 96ha property in Central Otago for its first cherry development.
The rural land investment company’s chief executive Andrew Watters says at least 60 New Zealanders have invested $10.5 million in the development.
But he told Rural News they are still raising the last capital for the Central Cherry Orchard Limited partnership so an investment opportunity remains.
“We are planting the first of our cherry trees in 2019 and expect them to be in full production in 2027. However we will get about one-third of a crop by 2023-24,” he says.
“It is a long time but the product, which is large (30mm) tasty cherries should be superb and in high demand.”
Development will begin on the bare land block in the Waikerikeri Valley, north of Alexandra, this autumn.
NZ export cherries are recognised for their exceptionally high quality and freshness.
This season it’s estimated 1.9 million 2kg boxes of cherries will be picked and airfreighted fresh to China and elsewhere in Asia to arrive in time for Chinese new year on February 5.
Watters says the Central Otago development, launched in late November, is the first cherry investment offer by MyFarm.
“Investment prospects for the NZ horticultural sector are particularly strong right now. The world wants our high quality, healthy produce and cherries’ time has come with that. We are witnessing a significant increase in export demand that this venture is going to help meet,” says Watters.
Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) says a new report projects strong export growth for New Zealand's horticulture sector highlights the industry's increasing contribution to the national economy.
A brilliant result and great news for growers and regional economies. That's how horticulture sector leaders are describing the news that sector exports for the year ended June 30 will reach $8.4 billion - an increase of 19% on last year and is forecast to hit close to $10 billion in 2029.
There is an appeal to New Zealanders to buy local citrus fruit.
Avocado growers are reporting a successful season, but some are struggling to keep their operations afloat following years of bad weather.
Horticulture and commercial vegetable growers in particular stand to be major beneficiaries of radical proposals by government to make sweeping changes to RMA regulations.
DairyNZ Chair Tracy Brown has seen a lot of change since she first started out in the dairy sector, with around one-third of dairy farmers now women.
Castle Ridge Station has been named the Regional Supreme Winner at the Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
The South Island Dairy Event has announced Jessica Findlay as the recipient of the BrightSIDE Scholarship Programme, recognising her commitment to furthering her education and future career in the New Zealand dairy industry.
New Zealand and Chile have signed a new arrangement designed to boost agricultural cooperation and drive sector success.
New DairyNZ research will help farmers mitigate the impacts of heat stress on herds in high-risk regions of the country.
Budou are being picked now in Bridge Pā, the most intense and exciting time of the year for the Greencollar team – and the harvest of the finest eating grapes is weeks earlier than expected.
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