When Crasborns Freshmax took on around 30 youth all in one go in March 2020, people were looking sideways at their human resources manager Ross Howard.

What started off as a hobby in the Hawke's Bay is a now successful business where the main market for the produce is Auckland.

The apple industry needs to work hard to get more New Zealanders to work on orchards to replace the backpackers that, until Covid, provided a significant proportion of the sector's workforce.

Horticulture NZ's annual report for 2020-2021 shows it was a mixed bag for the country's growers.

OPINION: Confusion abounds in the discussion about agricultural greenhouse gases (GHG) and misinformation is rife.

OPINION: Over the next couple of months, farmers will be invited to have their say on He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN) - the agreemnet between the Government and primary sector to tackle farm emissions - which could well be the most imporant thing they do in 2022.

Meka Whaitiri says Māori agribusiness is yet to realise its full potential.

Farm costs are rising rapidly and farmers are being urged to manage cows, staff and finance efficiently to stay profitable.

New Zealand's primary sector will crack the $50 billion mark in export earnings this year with the horticulture sector playing its part, according to MPI projections.

Who'll replace the backpackers? That's the dilemma facing the kiwifruit industry this season, which is looking at a shortage of 6,500 workers.