The Orchardist | February 2021

Page 27

YOUR INDUSTRY

The climate having played havoc with their cherry orchard, Adriana and Michael Mather plan to stay at their rural idyll in Te Karaka but are in talks to hand their plantings over to a younger couple who, they say, would have more energy to make it work

The world is changing, Gisborne growers warn A pair of Gisborne growers knew they were taking a risk planting cherries in a temperate area but say the pace of climate change took them by surprise … and took their orchard out of action. By Kristine Walsh Long-time residents of New Zealand, Adriana (originally from Scotland) and Michael (England) Mather met on a blind date in 2001, and with their respective adult children well established, decided the new year signified time for a new life – together. The couple lived in Gisborne for a while but by 2004 had bought in Te Karaka – just 25 minutes inland from Gisborne – nearly half a hectare of land complete with a dilapidated cottage that was formerly home to the resident District Nurse. For the next few years they continued to work in Gisborne while renovating the cottage and plotting what they would do with their little patch of paradise. “It was just a bare paddock that had been leased for grazing but I could see there was potential for putting on something to create an income,” Adriana says. “So we

took a couple of years to think it over, to work out what we thought would be a good crop.” The soil was good, having formerly been used both to graze young cattle and to grow kumara. “And the weather at that time told us there was enough cold during winter to make cherries viable, so we decided to go with that.”

It was just a bare paddock that had been leased for grazing but I could see there was potential for putting on something to create an income The ORCHARDIST : FEBRUARY 2021 25


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Articles inside

Substantial investment across 40ha – two titles

2min
page 75

Labour crisis 2021

8min
pages 65-67

Important reminder for growers around off-label use of products

3min
page 74

Seasonal Update

4min
pages 62-64

Need for workers on hail affected orchards greater than ever

2min
page 61

Living with uncertainty

2min
page 60

The tale of a young avocado grower

4min
pages 58-59

Looking at the future

3min
pages 56-57

Passion for horticulture in the genes

4min
pages 54-55

Limery tapping into ‘gold mine’ of local youth

13min
pages 48-53

Young graduate focuses on big picture

4min
pages 46-47

Orchard a family affair

4min
pages 44-45

All hailed out at top of the south

3min
pages 32-33

From helping people make travel plans to getting them into jobs

10min
pages 38-43

Getting food where the need is greatest

5min
pages 36-37

Mt Erin cuts ribbon on new packing facility

3min
pages 34-35

The world is changing, Gisborne growers warn

8min
pages 27-31

Nelson-Tasman photo competition

8min
pages 22-24

Women in Horticulture – Gender no barrier to success in horticultural career

3min
pages 20-21

Farm Environment Plans and new government requirements

2min
pages 25-26

Five secrets of the new Gen Z workforce

5min
pages 12-13

GoHort Northland Expo attracts hundreds

6min
pages 14-16

Emerging threat – serpentine leaf miner

3min
pages 10-11

The Chief Executive: Acting in unity for industry good

3min
page 7

Natural resources and environment

3min
pages 8-9
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