Te Awamutu News | 7 June 2019

Page 1

TE AWAMUTU NEWS | 1

FRIDAY JUNE 7, 2019

CountryLife see inside pages

CountryLife

Persimmo n still growin orchardist g strong

Every single persimmo n that goes to market literally comes under microscope at Holyoak Orchard. the

It’s this attenti on Matangi orchardists to detail that has kept Geoff and the forefront of the persimmonLeigh Peach at 30 years. “As an industry, fruit industry for over be residue-free for export must and we aim to be insect-free export to get into top for Holyoak Orchard markets,” says Geoff. has established shore, exporti markets offng to where persimmon a number of Asian countries off-season. The s are sought during their local fruit has gone through that reaches these shores a reaching its desti meticulous process before nation. Even the staff have many fruit picking years Every year Geoff of experience. prunes and thins they produce the trees so specifi picked using gloves c yields. The fruit is carefully to maintain its avoid bruising. integrity and Picking season typically runs April 1 to June from 20. with 1000 under There’s lots of trees to harvest, bird netting and plastic cover. 600 under Each persimmon is graded for size for insects. The and checked fruit by Geoff, assisted undergoes quality control sent for export. by daughter Sally, before being Each tray weighs size of the fruit. 4kg Larger persimmon despite the in socks. Eighty s are wrapped percent of the orchard’s markets are established pre-season. The aim is to consistently produce premium persimmons that look and taste that if you do good. “I believe a job, Geoff, a member you do it properly,” says of the NZ Persimmon Council. “Persimmon s are easy to grow Industry to grow well.” but hard The Peaches sourced seed from Japan 30 years ago, over and established trees. grafted from some early has a great passionGeoff knows every tree and still for the industry on. three decades

Geoff Peak Holyoak

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Welcome to your new News If it’s worth talking about, a good journalist will tell you it’s worth writing about. And there’s a lot to talk about in Waipā – from local body elections and the Budget to what our sports teams and service clubs are doing. Today the Te Awamutu News is launched to bring you a weekly snapshot of those stories. The thrust of your new newspaper is simple – if it’s local we want to know about it. Today we look ahead to Fieldays, talk to Alan Livingston about his decision to stand down from local government and we preview soccer and rugby matches. We visit Te Awamutu Primary School, hear about funding to help kōkako on Mt Pirongia – and we read about a search for a train driver in Ōtorohanga. On page 3 today we introduce you to our team and invite you to share your stories with us.

1959-2019

JUNE 7, 2019

Lewis: a real catch

Meet Lewis Nichols – Ōtorohanga’s hope in the Fieldays Rural Catch event. Today our team looks ahead to the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest agricultural expo. We talk to Lewis – and we also catch up with the Fieldays Events Manager Nicky Garland. See story page 7.

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