Hort News 8 November 2022

HORTNEWS NOVEMBER 2022, ISSUE 27

A big pitch made to attract more young people to take up careers in the hort sector.

– Page 9

ISSN 2624-3490 (print) ISSN 2624-3504 (online)

WWW.HORTNEWS.CO.NZ

Kiwifruit hit hard!

Peter Burke peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

“THIS IS my hardest year in the kiwifruit industry – ever!”

That’s how Michael Franks, chief executive of Seeka – the largest kiwifruit operator in NZ – is describing this coming season.

The new season got off to a terrible start with the devastating October frost, while an indifferent bud break is expected to significantly reduce the

volume of kiwifruit available for harvest this year.

Seeka, which owns both orchards and post-harvest facilities, accounts for 25% of NZ’s kiwifruit in production. It expects the amount of fruit it handles to be down by between 3.5 million and 4 million trays. The company owns orchards in Northland, Katikati, Coromandel, Tauranga, Te Puke and Edgecumbe.

Franks says while the orchards it owns weren’t significantly affected

by the frost, across the industry many others were badly hit and this has been compounded by the poor and – as yet – unexplained bud break.

He told Hort News the killer frost caught many growers by surprise because in some cases there wasn’t an inversion layer of warm air, which made windmills and covers ineffectual.

“It’s been about 15 years since we had a frost of this scale. In that time, people have made structural changes to their orchards, which meant that

their wind machines were ineffectual because they had put structures up,” Franks explains.

“In some cases, water systems ran out of water or the pumps failed because it was the first time they had run frost protection in a long time.”

According to Franks, Seeka was fortunate because it subscribes to a prediction service and – even though it said the risk of frost was low – brought helicopters into Te Puke to hover over the orchards and prevent damage the

night the frost struck. “That decision to bring in the choppers probably saved millions of dollars of fruit,” he says.

The outcome of the frost and poor bud break means that there will be less fruit to harvest and pack and it will also mean that there will likely be less pressure for labour. Franks believes this may help the quality issue and the possibility of better picking standards.

However, he emphasises that both this and next year will be tough ones for growers.

SQUEEZING TOGETHER! Gisborne-based procurement and marketing company First Fresh works with approximately 150 local horticulture clients. Headed by managing director Ian Albers, who describes First Fresh as a procurement and marketing company – it is a tree-to-trolley concept. A big focus for First Fresh is on citrus: mandarins oranges, lemons, limes, tangelos and grapefruit. This past season has not been an easy one, with almost constant rain. However, despite the rain Albers says the quality of the fruit has been good.

– See full story page 6.

Replacement Spray Pumps & Spray Kits Webbline Agriculture is a direct importer/reseller of a full range of pumps from market-leading manufacturers, along with service kits and accessories. Large range in stock.

Dealer enquiries are welcome.

View online - www.webbline.co.nz

Contact Ben 021 819 482 | ben.boakes@webbline.co.nz

WAIKATO • MANAWATU • CANTERBURY • SOUTHLAND

2

HORTNEWS

NOVEMBER 2022

A fight for good dirt!

Nigel Malthus

A LINCOLN-BASED community group is asking for financial support for what could be a test case in fighting the loss of New Zealand’s best foodproducing land to urban sprawl.

The group, Lincoln Voice, is trying to prevent a large residential subdivision on the southern boundary of the town, which they say would irreversibly destroy 190ha of scarce and highly valued agricultural soil.

While the town is already growing, with several new subdivisions already in place or under development on its outskirts, the “Lincoln South” development by the prominent Christchurch developers the Carter Group is by far the largest, practically doubling the size of the town.

It would convert what is now a dairy farm to as many as 1,710 new residential sections over 10 to 20 years.

Lincoln Voice spokespeople Denise Carrick and Rod McMillan say it is a scenario repeated throughout New Zealand, with councils approving private plan changes for housing development on highly productive soils “at an unprecedented rate.”

The long delayed National Policy Statement – Highly Productive Land (NPS-HPL), which aims to protect such land from development, was recently released. However, the group says a number of plan changes were approved immediately prior to its release.

That includes the Selwyn District Council’s Plan Change 69 (PC69), applied for by the Carter Group to allow for the

Rod McMillan and Denise Carrick in front of the fence marking the current boundary between the Lincoln urban area and farmland.

The dairy pasture is part of the Carter Group’s 170ha Lincoln South subdivision, which the pair hope to stop. PHOTO: NIGEL MALTHUS

Lincoln South project, and granted on June 8 this year. Carrick says the NPS-HPL should already have been in place.

“It should have been in place a couple of years ago, and then it got delayed and delayed again.”

Lincoln Voice has now lodged an appeal with the Environment Court to try to overturn PC69 in what it hopes will be a test case for all New Zealand.

“It is the view of our experts that the NPS-HPL applies to the PC69 site now, affording the land the policy statement’s immediate protections,” she told Hort News. “If we are successful in our appeal it will pave the way for protecting other areas around the country.”

Carrick says that only 15% of New Zealand’s most highly productive

Map of proposed Lincoln South subdivision SOURCE: Selwyn District Council.

Swiss precision. Made to last.

FELCO 211 LOPPERS

NEW

FELCO POWER TOOLS

The perfect balance of power and manoeuvrability.

Power through even the biggest jobs with ease.

The FELCO 211 range feature lightweight aluminium handles for comfortable cutting and curved cutting heads to pull in and easily slice through branches.

Designed to act as an extension of your body, the new FELCO Power Blade series feature lightweight, ergonomic handles for comfortable pruning all day long.

Available at your local FELCO Stockist.

Heiniger is the exclusive FELCO distributor and authorised service centre in NZ - contact us to find a FELCO dealer near you.

(03) 349 8282

|

heiniger.co.nz

land remains available for agriculture and horticulture because most has already been built on.

She says the land earmarked for the Lincoln development is among the best for agriculture, being classed as 1 to 3 on the national eight-point Land Use Capability index – which places it among the land specifically covered by the NPS-HPL. Dairy sheep farmer McMillan, who calls himself “the defender of soils,” says the loss of agricultural land to housing is “death by a thousand cuts.”

“The country loses strategic advantage because New Zealand’s advantage is in innovation on the back of the primary sector,” he told Hort News. “It might not be, in 50 or 100 years’ time – but at the moment it is, and if you’re looking to buy another car or get your electric upgrade you will need that sort of foreign exchange earnings.”

The Environmental Defence Society has joined the appeal, which is expected to be heard next year. Carrick says it will be a complex case but she believes the group has a lot of support.

“We have raised a lot of money, but just in terms of paying for lawyers at $500 an hour, we need to raise a lot more money.”

The Carter Group did not respond to an invitation to comment but in an FAQ section of the Lincoln South website the group comments that: “The quantum of versatile soil that will be lost is not considered to be significant in the context of the wider Lincoln area, or in terms of the district generally.”

HORTNEWS

NOVEMBER 2022

3

Less plastic waste for nurseries Peter Burke peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

“IT’S LIKE winning the lottery.”

That’s how a scientist from the Crown Research Institute Scion is describing their breakthrough in developing biodegradable nursery pots that will help nurseries and Kiwi gardeners reduce plastic waste and its impact on the environment.

The biodegradable pots, made from biopolymers and a biofiller, offer an alternative to the estimated 350 million plants in pots produced by NZ nurseries each year. The new product uses biopolymers made from sustainably grown sugarcane, cassava or corn. That is combined with a biofiller of waste organic matter.

Gerty Gielen, who heads Scions biodegradation testing facility, says the results are extraordinary.

“People have explored the idea of creating biodegradable plant pots for at least 10 years and many companies have given up along the way,” she told Hort News. “There are so many formula combinations and permutations, so to discover a formula that works feels like winning the lottery.”

The successful prototype, PolBionix, has been four years in development at Scion, as part of a project with commercial client Wilson and Ross Limited.

Director Peter Wilson engaged the services of Scion’s expert biomaterials and biodegradable testing team. The aim was to develop and test a formulation for a product that meets the requirements of a nursery, last at least 12 months above ground then, after it’s planted in soil, continues to biodegrade. The pot then provides fertiliser

Scientists Maxime Barbier and Gerty Gielen, pictured in Scion’s accredited biodegradation testing facility.

for the plant as it breaks down, supporting plant growth.

Polymer technologist Maxime Barbier developed various formulations in the project’s discovery phase, with product testing carried out in small batches.

Early results were mixed.

However, the team eventually developed a prototype that showed promising biodegradation properties in 2020.

Barbier says the research is a perfect example of Scion’s scientific focus in helping New Zealand transition to a circular bioeconomy and

be less reliant on products made from fossil fuels.

“Importantly, the end result is products that can reduce plastic pollution in New Zealand and carbon emissions,” she says.

The biodegradable pots are currently being tested in three commercial nurseries. Auckland

Council has also trialled the planting of 100 PolBionix pots in Waitawa Regional Park. A further 100 pots were planted in August at Anchorage Park School as part of Auckland’s Eastern Busway Infrastructure project.

Raw material costs for PolBionix are higher than

for traditional fossil-based plastic pots, so the pots will be more expensive.

However, mitigating this is the costs saved by not having to add fertiliser, or face charges for disposing of the traditional pots in landfill. Planting should also be quicker, so there’s reduced labour costs for large-scale projects too.

In addition to significant private investment, funding support over the past four years of research has come from Callaghan Innovation, Auckland Council’s Waste Minimisation Fund and the Ministry for Primary Industries through its Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund.

Manufacturing of the pots will scale up after production processes are fine-tuned using funding received from the Government’s Plastics Innovation Fund. The pots are expected to be available

by September 2023.

4

HORTNEWS

NOVEMBER 2022

NZ’s avocado industry on show to the world Parliament recently played host to the avocado industry which has had Ñ and still is having Ñ quite a bumpy ride, with poor prices and other challenges. However, despite dealing with these problems, the industry is looking forward to the World Avocado Congress, which is being held in NZ next year. Peter Burke was at the event.

THE STYLISH Grand Hall in Parliament buildings was the venue for the event and tasty avocado nibbles and dips were popular with the nearly 100 guests.

Speaking to the gathering, chief executive of NZ Avocados Jen Scoular conceded that the past season had been tough and that this year things are not looking much better with lower returns compounded by higher input costs – including labour – on the horizon.

She says part of the answer to recovery lies in the industry upping its overall productivity and taking a very close look at production costs. Scoular reckons there is plenty of information available to help growers to change.

UPCOMING WORLD CONGRESS A KEY date for the sector is April next year, when the World Avocado Congress will be held in NZ for the first time.

Already 500 people have registered to attend the event – with half of these from overseas. Countries such as South Africa Israel, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Uganda, Kenya, Spain and Australia will be represented at the congress.

Jen Scoular says NZ Avocados has been working on the conference programme for about 18 months and already has a good line-up of speakers, including some from overseas. As well as the congress, which will be held in Auckland from 2 – 5, a number of field days and tours are also planned for those who want to see some NZ orchards.

However, Scoular says the congress programme is still not finalised and they are still looking for more sponsors and potential speakers.

“We’ve got a grower who achieved 59 tonnes of avocados per hectare against the national average of 11 tonnes per hectares,” she told Hort News. “The people who are doing this are not doing anything special.

They haven’t got different root stocks – they are just doing best practice very well and innovating in their own way.”

Scoular says avocados is a popular industry to buy into and often it’s dairy or sheep farm-

ers who have retired but still want to be involved in agriculture and think growing avocados might be an easier lifestyle.

“It is not their main income and they are not necessarily growing for the money but they

NZ Avocados Jen Scoular says despite the current challenges facing the industry it is looking forward to the World Avocado Congress, which is being held in NZ next year.

like growing a sustainable, delicious product,” she adds. But in terms of making money, Scoular says people have to focus on productivity, which means gathering key data such as soil moisture and having a good grip on

costs such as labour. She points out that low-yielding trees are a problem.

“If your trees are producing 400-500 avocados per tree verses say 150 a tree, it is costing nearly three times as much to pick a poorly managed

orchard and that’s something growers need to think about.”

Scoular still believes that avocados are an amazing product that consumers love and the industry just has to do things better.

DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE LINDA FLEGG, president of NZ Avocado, comes from a family that’s been in the horticulture sector – especially kiwifruit – for a long time.

She says the mood of growers varies from region to region. In the Bay of Plenty where Flegg lives, she says growers understand that horticulture is a fickle business and that you have to wear the good with the bad.

She notes that a lot of the new industry entrants will be feeling some financial insecurity.

“Our family have been through boom and bust periods. In terms of avocados, the industry went through a period of about six of seven years when prices were high and returns to growers were exceptional,” Flegg told Hort News.

“Some were receiving up to $40 a tray and some saw that as the

President of NZ Avocado and long-time grower Linda Flegg.

new norm – which it wasn’t. When a grower comes to us and says I am looking at buying an avocado orchard, what should I budget on?

We say conservatively budget $12 dollars a tray.”

Flegg says new entrants to the industry must do due diligence and if they can’t do that they shouldn’t buy. She believes anyone coming into the avocado sector should at least have some

primary industry experience. She adds that there is plenty of information available to help people make decisions.

“Do the due diligence, and talk to people, but don’t necessarily take the advice of a real estate agent,” she says.

Flegg believes the industry is now in the midst of creating a new normal and we all have to go along for the ride.

New Zealand agent for Netwizz and Olinet netting applicators for vineyards and orchards New shipment just arrived!

Sales: Jeremy Watts 021 446 225 | jeremy@agrivit.co.nz

HORTNEWS

NOVEMBER 2022

Rockit set to launch south APPLE COMPANY Rockit Global Limited is planning for its biggest planting year yet Ñ targeting a further 200ha of trees in the ground in 2023.

THE COMPANY is also expanding south, identifying suitable land and growers in Canterbury and Nelson – as well as seeking new partners in Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne, where fruit is currently grown.

Despite sharing many of the same challenges as many other New Zealand fruit varieties this year, Rockit’s forecast orchard gate return has progressively lifted across the year and the company is on track to deliver a record market price. This year more than 76 million New Zealand Rockit apples will be shipped, with up to 160 million apples expected in 2023.

General manager commercial Tom Lane says with international demand for the snack size apples is booming and new markets are opening up every year. Rockit apples are sold in more than 30 countries— including China, India, Vietnam, the USA and UAE. Currently, the company grows apples in the northern hemisphere (the USA, UK and Europe) as well as throughout New Zealand’s east coast to ensure year-round global supply.

“We’ve already committed 100ha of new plantings across the east coast in 2023, with our most significant growth in Gisborne,” Lane says.

“We started with 3ha there in 2020, we’ll have 105ha planted by the end of 2022, and we continue to seek new opportunities for growth in the eastern region.”

With a thriving horticulture sector in both Canterbury and Nelson, Lane says it makes perfect sense to begin establishing a presence in the South Island.

“We’ve already begun the process of identifying some really great, fertile

land, and some energetic, forward-thinking growers interested in diversifying their business by growing Rockit apples – and we’re on the lookout for more.”

The company says it will work closely with new growers to ensure they are well supported as they put trees in the ground for the first-time next year. It is also evaluating opportunities to establish a Rockit Management Services (RMS) team offering full orchard management options as well as support and expertise for independent growers in the south.

“We’re looking to partner with some truly great horticultural operators, as well as arable, sheep, beef and dairy farmers seeking new income streams,” Lane adds. “There is certainly a massive opportunity in the south – stable weather conditions, good water supply, and the prospect of growing brilliantly coloured fruit for our markets across the globe.”

He adds with its growers currently concentrated along the upper east coast, leaves the company exposed to weather events in Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay. “We see the South Island as a logical move, and we’ll be looking to scale relatively quickly to around 150ha over the coming years.”

A feasibility study into establishing a shared packhouse facility in Canterbury is also underway.

Lane says that fully mature fruit coming from the South Island is likely to be slightly smaller in size than the apples that are harvested in Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne.

“The countries we export to each have their own preferences when it comes to fruit size, so being able to deliver a range of sizes is very useful.”

Apple company Rockit has plans to expand south and is currently identifying suitable land and growers in Canterbury and Nelson.

INSECT

For more information:

The smarter choice for integrated pest management for potatoes and other vegetable crops. www.fmccrop.nz

5

6

HORTNEWS

NOVEMBER 2022

Tree to trolley strategy key to Gisborne citrus company’s success Citrus is big in Gisborne, but surprisingly there are only a few large scale commercial growers. Instead, as Peter Burke reports, the small to medium growers are the big suppliers and their helping hand comes in the form of a company called Fresh First.

THE ORIGINS of this company are to say the least a little unconventional.

It was founded by Bill Thorpe. During the late 1980s, the logic of expanding his horticultural growing and packing activity into the marketing of Gisborne fruit and produce became obvious and Thorpe established First Fresh in 1989.

Today, this company works with approximately 150 local horticulture clients. It is now headed by managing director Ian Albers, who has spent a lifetime in the sector and taken the business to new levels. He describes First Fresh as a procurement and marketing company – hence the tree-to-trolley concept.

A big focus for First Fresh is on citrus: mandarins oranges, lemons, limes, tangelos and grapefruit.

This past season has

not been an easy one, with almost constant rain. Albers can’t think of too many weeks when it hasn’t rained and this has caused huge challenges for citrus growers – as it has for other commercial growers and orchardists on the East Coast.

However, despite the rain Albers says the quality of the fruit has been good.

“Because it’s been warm and wet and the winter has been very mild, what we are seeing in navel oranges and mandarins is that there are quite low levels of acid and good levels of sugar – so the overall flavour profile has been very good,” he told Hort News.

That’s good for consumers because Albers says citrus is a popular fruit and supermarkets want it on their shelves throughout the year. The oranges and mandarins are popular eating fruit,

First Fresh managing director Ian Albers says the company works with approximately 150 local horticulture clients.

while the lemons and limes fill a need as vital supplements and ingredients in drinks and cooking.

As mentioned above, there are a number of small semi-lifestyle citrus orchards in and around Gisborne and that in itself offers challenges, of which getting the labour to pick the fruit is one.

There are few RSE workers employed in the region, as there are not many large operations that can hire large numbers of people so – by and large – it’s had to rely on locals and backpackers “No one has escaped the labour issue, but it has affected the smaller grower more,” Albers adds.

With the new season coming, he is confident that things will improve but admits the isolation of Gisborne makes it a ‘destination’ in the minds of many.

“Hopefully we’ll see backpackers come into the country and they do tend to come here during the summer months,” he told Hort News. “A lot of

backpackers come here for the surf and they have formed a good chunk of the labour force in years gone by.

The other thing that works in our favour is that there is good horticulture work during the autumn and winter with persimmons, citrus, grapes, kiwifruit and apples – all of which need

pruning – so we are a good drawcard for that winter business.”

Albers believes the challenge is trying to provide 12-months work, which will be attractive to people and good for growers.

This, he says, would give the region a consistent and quality labour force.

ORANGE DESPATCH

A BIG part of the work undertaken by Ian Albers and his team at First Fresh is making sure that their client growers get all the right advice and help they need to produce quality fruit for both the export and domestic market.

There is a three person crop monitoring team who are out in the field all the time, checking growers’ fruit and trees on a daily basis for pests and disease. They also provide growers with recommendations on how to deal with any issues that arise.

The company also has a technical manager responsible for new product development new orchard management and development. Finally, there is a compliance manager who – among other things – looks after the NZGAP (good agricultural practice), which is quality assurance and certification programme that growers sign up to.

“We run an NZGAP group scheme [that] our growers belong to and that saves them money but also runs them under our

umbrella and that’s been really successful,” Albers explains.

So, in essence, the company provides on-the-ground support for its client growers and then it packs and markets the products – both for the domestic and international market. Citrus and persimmons are the main two crops they handle.

About 30% of the product the company handles is exported and the rest is sold on the domestic market. The main crops exported are lemons and persimmons and these are sold throughout Asia – places such as Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Korea, USA, Australia and the Philippines.

The quantity sold to each market varies according to market access and the importing country phytosanitary regulations arrangements.

Albers says the sector is looking to develop new citrus varieties with Citrus NZ, the peak industry body, heavily involved in this. He adds that the other main avenue for new variety develop-

A major part of First Fresh’s work is ensuring their client growers get all the right advice and help they need to produce quality fruit for both the export and domestic market. ment has been commercial operators who have brought in new varieties and own the IP. “We at First Fresh have exclusive rights to a new seedless lemon, so we have got trees in the ground now and we’ll have small commercial crop next year,” he told Hort News. “We see that as bit of game changer – especially for export.”

Automation and technology

are seen as the future for the hort sector in general – especially given the labour shortages, which seem set to continue into the future. Albers doesn’t believe there are too many immediate options for automation in the harvesting area. However, he believes there are certainly possibilities in the post-harvest area for grading, which would make a difference.

“I see the most opportunity around crop estimation and volume and what crops are out there also using the likes of drones to see into trees and gain more valuable data,” he says.

In the meantime, Albers and the First Fresh team in Gisborne will continue working with their grower clients to produce another good harvest of some of NZ’s much loved popular fruit.

HORTNEWS

NOVEMBER 2022

Crafting the best hops MAC HOPS director, Brent McGlashen, is a fifth-generation farmer on his family farm in Nelson.

Nestled at the top of New Zealand’s South Island, the original 30-hectare farm was purchased in the early 1900s. Today, Mac Hops is one of the last original New Zealand family hop growing businesses. It has recently expanded to become one of the largest hop producers in the country, tapping into the world’s insatiable demand for craft beer.

Together with his brother-in-law Owen Johnstone, McGlashan harvests over 130 hectares of hops on two separate farms.

“I have huge respect for the passion of craft brewers. Without them, I wouldn’t be here talking to you,” he says. “Their enthusiasm and skill has created so much excitement for the hopgrowing community.”

McGlashan says he was warned there was no future in hops and that he should look into other forms of farming.

“But having stuck with the crop and watching Mac Hops develop, I wake up every morning ready to give each day my all.”

As the demand for Mac Hops product continues to flourish, so does the business.

Nelson-based Brent McGlashen, is a fifth-generation farmer where his company – MacHops – harvests over 130 hectares of hops on two separate farms.

Recently acquiring an 150-hectare property, a 12-minute drive from their current farm, Mac Hops has significantly increased their production levels and now has established a new and modern infrastructure for harvesting and drying the extra production.

As they have grown, so has their need for extra equipment that can handle the workloads

thrown their way.

Johnstone is a strong supporter of the six Kubota tractors doing the cultivation work on the new farm.

“I have been using Kubota tractors for about seven years now, as they are reliable pieces of machinery.

“I have four M8540 narrows and two M5101 narrows which are lightweight and perfect for the conditions we

have on our farms,” he explains.

“When purchasing the tractors, we were looking for a lighter frame to navigate tough clay conditions. I have had very few issues with my Kubotas, which is a testament to their durability, they handle our needs on a big farm amazingly well.”

Johnstone says the running costs are low and service and parts are also

023 2 R A D N E L A C A N D E

reasonably priced.

“Ultimately that’s all you could want in a tractor, fairly priced with a reliable build. All the tractors are fitted with customised cabs which provide extra comfort to our staff who at times work long hours.”

March is the most important time of the year at Mac Hops, when it’s time to harvest the hops grown over the season. McGlashan has

evenly dried,” he explains.

“Too little or too much time in the kiln can lead to the precious oils within the hops tainted and the hops are ruined.”

McGlashan says while many outsiders may see hop growing as a stressful and complicated process, he wouldn’t have any other way.

“There’s a craft to it and I enjoy taking good care to produce the perfect hop.”

spent many long nights with his NZ family and for a few years also joined his hop grower friends in the USA, fitting in two harvests in a calendar year.

“The most exacting task during harvesting is the hop drying process.

The hops are placed in a kiln to dry out and must be carefully checked every 20 minutes towards the end of the kilning process to ensure they are

2023 Edna Calendar ❱❱ $25 including post & packaging ❱❱ 12 of Edna’s best cartoons

“You do realise Edna,

7

ll be breaking the law

if we start to float, you’

banning live animal

shipments!”

EDNA!!

❱❱ 330mm x 240mm, spiral bound

ORDER NOW! T: 09-307 0399 then press 1 to be put through to reception

E: julieb@ruralnews.co.nz

“Break my New

Year resolutio

n? - no way

– it must be

the Aussie bush

fires you can

RURAL NEWS

HORTNEWS

TO ALL FARMER

S, FOR ALL FARMER

S

1

SUNDAY

NEW YEARS DAY

2

8

9

15

16

22 29

JANUARY

MONDAY

NEW YEARS DAY

3 OBSERVED

23

TUESDAY

NEW YEARS DAY

10

WEDNESDAY

4

5

30

THURSDAY

6

FRIDAY

7

SATURDAY

OBSERVED

11

12

13

14

17

18

19

20

21

24

25

26

27

28

1

2

3

4

WELLINGTON ANNIVERSARY

AUCKLAND ANNIVER SARY NELSON ANNIVER SARY

smell!”

31

FEBRUARY

8

HORTNEWS

NOVEMBER 2022

Bumbling bureaucrats are making life harder for the sector Pam Tipa

NZ HOTHOUSE Ltd’s managing director Simon Watson reckons if you want to make something expensive, difficult and clumsy you get a bureaucrat in Wellington to do it – referring to labour shortages and worker visa settings.

His company, which is New Zealand’s largest privately-owned tomato grower, has 19.5ha of glasshouses in Karaka, Auckland and produces more than 18 million units per annum – a unit being a kilo of tomatoes, a punnet of cherry tomatoes or a telegraph cucumber.

Watson says the company produces about 25% of the country’s tomatoes.

They are not the biggest producer in New Zealand – that is Status Produce, also in Auckland – but they are the biggest privately owned one.

The majority of its business is with the two major supermarket chains, providing the whole range of tomatoes, but its specialist area is cherry tomatoes. NZ Hothouse has always been in the glasshouse business and founder Brett Wharfe originally opened a packhouse in the early 1980s and he initially had a number of other grow-

NZ Hothouse Ltd is the country’s largest privately-owned tomato grower, it has 19.5ha of glasshouses in Karaka, south Auckland, and produces more than 18 million units per annum.

ers – up to 120 growers at the peak – supplying the packhouse.

“The reason for that was the supermarkets wanted consistency; they wanted to be able to place an order for 1,000 cartons and know they were all the same colour, shape, size and quality. You can only do that through a packhouse,” says Watson.

In the late ‘90s, following a trip to Europe Watson – who joined the

company in the early ‘90s – says they found that growers there were getting larger, there were less of them and they were getting more corporatised.

“We came back from that trip and Brett built 5ha of the glasshouses we have today. If you go back 30 years ago tomato in the New Zealand there were over 1,000 growers. Today there are about 100.”

Of those 100 about six currently make up about 80% of the industry.

The business got into hydroponics in the late ‘90s. A focus for the company is biological methods.

“We avoid using agrichemicals and we introduce beneficial insects to hunt out and destroy the bad insects,” says Watson. “That minimises the amount of agrichemicals we have

to spray.” He says it is an ongoing battle.

“As an industry we would love to have more beneficial insects in our toolbox. And there are number of research projects we are involved with to try and identify some of the native species to have more beneficial insects available to us,” Watson told Hort News.

He says Whitefly is the major problem insect and they need to find predator

insects that like to eat it.

“And they also need to like tomatoes and not all insects like tomatoes.

The major one used at the moment is Encarsia Formosa. That is a very tiny wasp that lays its larvae in the larvae of a white fly.”

They use bumble bees to pollinate “which is the way nature intended”.

“In our major glasshouse we have about 25,000 in various hives dotted around the glass-

CHANGE IS NEEDED! SIMON WATSON, who is also vice chair of Tomatoes NZ, says the biggest challenge as a country and as an industry is a shortage of labour.

“And it is a genuine shortage of labour because we can advertise heavily through the internet and through print media and we get no replies. That is a sign the country is very, very short of labour.”

He says worker shortages are not just in horticulture, but right across the whole economy.

“There is just a fundamental shortage of labour and it is absolutely stifling business.

No one can dare expand and indeed some businesses are looking to scale back production because they can’t guarantee they will be able to pick the product let alone process it.

“This winter we had some weeks we were around 20% down on what we need to operate the business.”

Watson says Wellington have been very slow to be able to react to the need for more

labour. “The ball is in their court – they can fix it if they want to but they have got to want to,” he says.

“We have a system that is broken, it is expensive, clumsy and difficult.

“We are not alone in the developed world in being short of labour and other countries like Canada and Australia have streamlined their pathways for immigration to bring workers in.”

Watson says a worker sitting in Malaysia or Taiwan or wherever and who wants a job, will go through the less difficult path to secure it.

“You will go through the easy path and you will go to place like Canada because they have thrown open the welcome mat and they are paying good money and the pathways are simple, straight forward and inexpensive.”

He adds that in terms of growth plans they are very nervous about doing anything now “because they can’t guarantee they would have people to staff it”.

Simon Watson says the biggest challenge as a country and as an industry is a shortage of labour.

house at any one time.”

But like many in horticulture, the last couple of years have been tough and getting tougher.

Over the last two years, only about 3% of their crop has been exported because of Covid and the disruption to shipping schedules both in and out of NZ means a lot of export has been shelved.

Watson says their three major costs are labour, energy and fertiliser.

“Those are our three biggest costs. Labour has gone up 18% in the last 18 months, natural gas has gone up 49% and fertiliser has gone up 81%.”

The fertiliser one may settle down because that is very much a function of disrupted supply lines, he says.

“But in general, it has been a perfect storm, we’ve had the issues with Covid, we’ve had the disruptions to shipping supply lines and on top of that we have had spikes in energy prices caused by the activities in places like Ukraine.

“You throw into that we are desperately short of labour, the borders have been shut and the immigration pathways provided by Wellington have been very disruptive.”

HORTNEWS

NOVEMBER 2022

Filling the job deficit!

A LONG PROUD HISTORY

Peter Burke peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

THE HAWKES Bay Fruitgrowers Association (HBFA) is making a big pitch to attract more people to take up careers in the horticulture sector.

On their stand at the recent Hawkes Bay A&P show, Dean Smith – HBFA business and engagement manager – was kept busy talking to young people and their parents and others about the great career opportunities that the sector has to offer. MPI’s Jackie Davis was also on the stand as part of the ministry’s programme to highlight the exciting jobs in the primary sector.

A major push at the show was to get people to attend an expo – ‘Pick the Bay’ – which is designed to mobilise the local workforce ahead of

9

THE HAWKES Bay Fruitgrowers Association was established in 1899 and for more than 120 years it has represented the interests of the region’s growers.

Smith says the organisation has naturally changed over the years with more corporate and fewer small growers. However, he says its core objectives of protecting, fostering and promoting that remain unchanged.

“We are pan sector, meaning we are not just a pipfruit organisation,” he told Hort News. “We don’t just represent summer fruit; we also have members who include berry and kiwifruit growers and the whole gamut of fruit growing.

“We advocate on behalf of our members but we play an active

Hawkes Bay Fruitgrowers Association’s Dean Smith and MPI’s Jackie Davis were at the recent Hawkes Bay A&P highlighting the great career opportunities that the hort sector has to offer.

the harvest season. More than 20 growers were involved in expo, ranging from the larger corporate growers to the small owner operators.

Also supporting the event were the local Napier and Hastings councils, along with Te Pūkenga – NZ Institute

of Skills and Technology.

The latter organisation is mobilising students from local secondary schools and the institute itself.

Smith told Hort News that there is a labour shortage in Hawkes Bay and while some use is made of RSE workers, the local hort sector very

much needs local labour to harvest the various fruit crops and produce grown in the region. He says the objective of the HB Fruitgrowers Association is to try to create aspirational pathways for young people to enter the industry.

“At the show we have

had a lot on inquiries from young people and yes we have given away a lot of apples. I think there

role in career progression including running the local Hawkes Bay Fruitgrower of the Year. We also arrange different social catch-ups for people in the industry and through our charitable trust offer scholarships to students and celebrate those at an annual industry awards night.”

Smith says they are now working closely with MPI and tapping into its programmes and networks.

The aim being to connect with key influences – namely parents and teachers – and educate them about the amazing career opportunities in the sector.

“Things that people seldom think about such as flying drones to assess crops and forests,” Smith adds. “Being at the Hawkes Bay show was all part of this process.”

is a feeling of pride within the region for horticulture and the fruit growing industry,” Smith says. “We

had good conversations with some young people about the opportunities over their holidays.”

THE VERSATILE TRACTOR FOR DIVERSE HORT FARMING AGROPLUS V RANGE 320V/420V Ideal for orchard and vineyard work, these tractors strike the perfect balance between superior performance and low running costs • 82-96HP Cabin options available • Powershuttle transmission with unique ‘Stop n Go’ function • 3-speed powershift transmission

• 75-95HP options with the ultimate Deutz-Fahr engine powering the tractor • Ideal for orchard and vineyard work, these tractors strike the perfect balance between superior performance and low running costs • Three different low and narrow options • The driver’s seat and seating position are extremely comfortable

Phone 0800 801 888 | deutztractors.co.nz | powerfarming.co.nz

STOCK AVAILABLE TODAY

10

HORTNEWS

NOVEMBER 2022

Making light work of logistics Mark Daniel markd@ruralnews.co.nz

GIVEN THAT any fruit crop needs good logistics for getting ripe crops to the packhouse, efficient transport systems are a must.

The Transtak trailer range, designed as far back as the early 1990s, has evolved into a well-thought out and reliable transport solution. It encompasses all areas, with a range that starts with a 2-bin/ ATV model, right up to a 12-bin/7,000kg capacity unit for bulk transport.

Testament to the excellent design detail and high build quality, is that many of these trailers supplied in the early days are still putting in a hard day’s work at harvest.

The versatility of the Transtak design has helped in the rapid expansion of the kiwifruit

crop in the Bay of Plenty, which brought with it the problems of finding staff and getting picked fruit away from beneath low pergolas and into the packhouse.

This rapid expansion saw the need to integrate trailers into the operation, leading to a position of market leader and the trailer of choice in the kiwifruit industry – with dozens sold into the region every year. This popularity has been built on performance, reliability, strength and minimal maintenance requirements.

In kiwifruit, comparing the performance of the Transtak system with a conventional roller trailer system, a single 1500l or 1500LE trailer is able to keep up with 3 or 4 picking teams, compared to the need for 2 or 3 roller trailers to keep up with just one team. In

height. It has rubber load cushioning on the lifting forks that are manufactured from tapered pressformed high tensile steel.

The 225-70R15 tyres are carried on 15-inch rims, which are protected by rolled steel mudguards that also incorporate deflector struts and bin lead-in rails.

An integral part of the system is the Transtak Soft-Ride rubber and hydro-pneumatic suspension system. Options include trailer light and indicators, rear-facing work lights for use under canopies or poor light conditions, as well as an easily operated parking jack.

Manufactured in two versions, the T1500l can handle 1,200mm by 1,200mm bins, while the T1500LW is designed for bins of 1,600mm by 1,100mm dimensions. www.transtak.co.nz

The Transtak system 1500LP with a conventional roller trailer system is able to keep up with 3 or 4 picking teams.

fact, a single three-bin unit will do the work of 9 to 12 roller trailers.

Typically mounted on the front of the tractor for ‘pushing’, the trailers are equally at home on the rear of the tractor for longer transport duties. All units are fitted with a soft-ride suspension system, ensuring bins don’t bounce during transport as they

move over obstacles, thus retaining fruit quality and operator comfort.

In the apple industry, the trailers help to improve efficiency of bin movements by supporting the forklifts that work within the rows. Typically, forklifts will create stacks of 3, 6 or 12 bins at the headlands, that are taken away by the bin trailers and replaced with

to the packhouse, the Transtak system eliminates the need for loading bays in the orchard. This reduces truck movements and ultimately frees up more space for additional trees.

Looking at the general specification, as an example, the 1,500l trailer features a 6.00 RHS wheel frame, a 3-inch hydraulic cylinder with 350mm lift

empties.

This helps ensure that forklifts stay near the pickers, while removing the need for long, bouncy runs to the loadout areas. The result is improved efficiency and fruit quality, and a reduction in the total amount of machines operating in each block.

Additionally, for short to medium distance runs

HORTNEWS Introducing Hort News, a national publication serving the needs of our booming horticulture sector.

Distributed with the leading national farming publication Rural News, Hort News will be delivered to all key horticulture regions nationwide.

It is the complete solution for readers and advertisers, covering every aspect of the wider horticulture industry – news, agribusiness, management, markets, machinery and technology.

HORTNEWS NOVEMB ER 2021 , ISSUE

Bumper cherry cro p predicted – Page 7

Sweet res ult for ho rt!

19

WWW.HO RTNEWS .CO.NZ

ISSN 2624ISSN 2624- 3490 (print) 3504 (onlin e)

Sudesh Kis sun

sudeshk@

ruralnew s.co.

nz that quota attracts an told Hort 8% tariff,” SOME HO News. he with RTICULTUR Covid. “Tra Under the also brac de and exp proposed ing for fina E farmers are on efits a dive orting ben FTA, the ncial relie pears will the propos rse range - onion tariff bus f from be remove of New Zea ed free inesses,” with the tari d on day trade agre between land the sector is extremely he says. one, ff on apples ement New Zealand grateful for hard wor “Without three year reducing k of New and the Uni Kingdom.

New Zealand clear trad s ove Zealand’s tiators and r ments, ted ing arrange onion indu negoimproved “So, ther Apple, pea $200 mill stry was wor - tirelessl diplomats who hav e mar is some fina ket ion back reduced tari r and onio e worked y to conclud th and we ben ncial relie to the grow among tho n growers ffs, it is extr access and of which e this agre efit from a f er, 85% “The New se set to are regu came from to eme export from more wel ly difficult benefit alth Zealand team ement. latory env not as big exports. coming while Api the bottom join Zoom ironment,” major mea ough Meanculture New has to of larg had calls the t and dair er econom says to deal Onion grow world at ers. with their Zealand says y exportwill be a grea ies like the ers will face Pollard. Kingdo counterpart extremely the from m. t inco Uni outc s zero day one. ted nigh nvenient ome NZ Apples industry and tariff The tariff times of the t, for exampl and Pears will improve for the bee “Of immedia land onio on Alan Pollard New chief exec e.” ness Zea- sect ns is curr competitive te in one of utiv The conclus says at the ently 8% or is the exp benefit to the onio their largest moment the e Zealand currentl is a $100 ion of this kets. . New n will ben ectation of export mar million mar UK wor y exports agreement efit tariffs bein ket for grow $11 million eliminated on onio th of onio consistently g commun onion growers and The UK con ns, once the ns to the ers, dom ranking in ment com regional ities, sistently United Kin agreethree. es into forc annually. the top two of top thre ranks as gterbury. Oni from Pukekohe to e.” or one e export The New Can- Zea ons are an Onions NZ markets “We have Zealand land hon important tion crop for New chief exe ann a quota betw Gov ey oun for rota Kup and ern cuti ced the deta many vege - lion erus says ment Hav and Decemb is worth een August annually. the FTA will ve James ciple” table grow $70 miling onions er where this country “We have New Zealand ils of an “in-priners. with volume abo in a rota strong ties ’s onion exp ensure that as trad growers to UK custom -UK FTA tion allo ve to grow last week rotate betw orts continu ers, with ws tory e official as the wor s neared a long hiseen other of exporti e the dea ld comes completing such as lettuces, pota crops pro ng high-qu l after littl to terms toes, carr ality hon ducts ther which help e more than of negotia ots etc, ey e. Howeve s a year tions. Kup in-quota r, the curr and diseases to control erus says tari ent pests ff rate of . the NZ 16 per cen been a sign In 2019, the t has ificant barr ier to trad Karin Kos e,” says , chie New Zealand f executive of Apicult ure .

GETTING READY!

MANGAW EKA ASP ARAGUS Sam Rain manager ey overse es an 80 asparagus hectare in the cen tral North When Hor Island. t News visi ted the pro in late Sep perty tember, Rainey and were in the his staff final stag es of pre for the har paring vest. The packhouse being set was up and at the sam first spe e time the ars of asp aragus wer to appear e starting . While the total size property of the is 80 hec tares, the just 65 hec y will pick tares this season – equates which to up to 250 tonnes.

See story pages 4 and 5.

NOW PUBLISHED MONTHLY! Replacem

ent Spray

Contact Be

n 021 81

9 482 |

Pumps &

Spray Kit

s

ben.boak es@webbl

Webbline Agricultur e is a dir importer/r ect eseller of a full rang of pumps e from mar ket-leading manufac turers, alo ng with se and acce rvice kits ssories. La rge range Dealer en in stock. quiries ar e welcom e.

ine.co.nz

View on lin e - ww w. we

WAIKATO

•CANTER BU

RY • SO

bb lin e.c

UTHLAND

o.nz

To book your advert contact your local sales rep

• It’s the one-stop way to reach the horticultural sector • News and information for all types of growers • 10,000 nationwide distribution • Sent out with the trusted and established publication Rural News

Publishers of

RURAL NEWS TO ALL FARMERS, FOR ALL FARMERS

Contact: STEPHEN POLLARD Auckland Sales Representative Ph 021 963 166 LISA WISE Waikato Sales Representative Ph 027 369 9218 RON MACKAY Wellington Sales Representative Ph 021 453 914 KAYE SUTHERLAND Christchurch Sales Representative Ph 021 221 1994

branches

HORTNEWS

NOVEMBER 2022

Robotics an answer to labour?

Mark Daniel markd@ruralnews.co.nz

TAURANGA-BASED, Robotics Plus has launched its autonomous multi-use, modular vehicle platform for agriculture.

It is designed to carry out a variety of orchard and vineyard tasks and help to alleviate ongoing labour shortages within the industry.

The multi-purpose Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV), which can be supervised in a fleet of vehicles by a single human operator, uses a combination of vision systems and other technologies to sense the environment. Growers will be able to rotate multiple tools on the adaptable platform, depending on the day’s work, carrying out jobs such as spraying, weed control, mulching, mowing and crop analysis.

“We’ve created a flexible agricultural platform with the power to adapt to different crop types with tools for various applications,” says Steve Saunders, co-founder and chief executive of Robotics Plus.

“Providing year-round automation benefits and maximizing machine utilisation.”

Said to deliver growers and orchardists automation that solves real-world problems, the vehicle reduces reliance on costly and hard-to-find machine operators, while also providing data-driven insights for informed decision-making.

The first application for the technology is intelligent spraying, adapting flow rates to ensure spray efficacy whilst reducing inputs.

This is achieved by adjusting spray rates and airspeed in controlled zones as the sprayer moves along orchard or vineyard rows.

Highly manoeuvrable,

with a small footprint and unique steering configuration, incorporating independent motors, the UGV can be operated in a range of crops with a minimum row spacing of 1.8m.

This allows for more ground to be covered than machines, which turn on every second row or greater.

Featuring a hybrid electric-diesel drive train, the former offers superior torque and control, whilst a Tier 4 diesel generator means the vehicle can operate for extended periods.

Fuel consumption is minimised by electrically driving all systems, including tools.

Regenerative braking and high-capacity batteries also extend efficiency and range.

Additionally, the vehicle’s lightweight design and intelligent all-wheeldrive system, with independent wheel motors to ensure grip and control, all reduce ground compaction.

The vehicle has been designed from the ground up to be modular and easy to service.

It has no hydraulic, gearbox or differential fluids to be managed, with vehicles kept running if a part fails by simply swapping out modules when required. Component suppliers include Yamaha, Autonomous Solutions and Croplands, who will offer support in the field.

Robotics Plus developed the modular platform UGV at its Tauranga base, with extensive testing in New Zealand and the US in various environments and applications. Robotics Plus investors include Yamaha Motor Company and New Zealand’s ACC Impact Fund. www.roboticsplus. co.nz/ @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews

The autonomous multi-use, modular vehicle platform for agriculture is designed to carry out a variety of orchard and vineyard tasks and help to alleviate ongoing labour shortages.

Time pressure you can manage

from anywhere*

In farming there never seems to be enough time to go round.

Talk to your local dealer today to find out how FieldNET’s remote irrigation management system can free you up for when the time pressure comes on.

FIELDNET ™ Any Pivot. Anytime. Anywhere.

www.lindsay.com/irrigateanz

*Network connection dependant. FieldNET™ is a registered trademark of the Lindsay Corporation. © 2021 Lindsay. All Rights Reserved

11

12

HORTNEWS

NOVEMBER 2022

Steps to improve fruit quality Usha Amaranathan - Zest Biotech

BY NOW you have probably seen the headlines regarding issues with fruit quality and the forecast cost to growers.

We have also noticed increasing incidences of vine decline syndrome, which requires attention from orchard managers.

While the industry undertakes formal investigations, we suggest some immediate steps growers can take to improve fruit quality and vine health, increase fruit value and reduce production costs.

We have tracked the use of fertilisers in kiwifruit orchards and noticed widespread excessive fertiliser application. In particular, we have noticed the excessive use of potassium, nitrogen, boron and copper.

While copper is valuable when applied judiciously, overuse is of particular concern because: 1. Copper is highly toxic to plants 2. PSA is resistant to copper 3. Copper has not controlled PSA disease manifestation High levels of boron can result in premature softening of fruit. High rates of potassium and nitrogen may increase kiwifruit yield but can also

Damaged fruit on the left vs saleable fruit on the right.

decrease flesh firmness. Excessive potassium locks up magnesium in the soil resulting in magnesium deficiency and potassium-induced leaf breakdown syndrome.

Unbalanced fertiliser treatments and excessive fertiliser can harm yield

and quality.

Our advice to manage fruit quality issues in the short to medium term is as follows: • Apply fertilisers only if test results indicate a deficiency – do not aim for “high fertility” (toxic levels).

• Carry out leaf tests. Do not apply foliar feeds unless the test shows a deficiency. Check the contents of foliar feeds; some products may contain high levels of micro and macronutrients.

• Stop using copper after bud burst.

Instead, apply humates to lock up

RURAL NEWS TO ALL FARMERS, FOR ALL FARMERS

www.ruralnews.co.nz

Delivering to your mailbox for over 30 years

copper in the soil.

• Foliar nitrogen application should be stopped unless you have evidence of need/benefit.

• Stop using potassium until soil levels drop into the desired range.

• Use the Agrizest/Primazest programme. In orchards with high soil potassium levels, combine magnesium sulphate with the Agrizest/Primazest programme. This will improve fruit quality and reduce stress from salinity, the severity of leaf breakdown and premature leaf fall.

• Bear in mind that nutrients interact. By applying too much of one nutrient, other nutrients may become less available, causing a deficiency (see Mulder’s Chart).

The Primazest/Agrizest programme will assist in reducing abiotic and biotic stress and allow the vines to be healthier and more productive.

In the long term, standard fertiliser levels may need to be investigated and adjusted to suit current varieties, industry practices and soil health. If you are unsure, please seek independent advice.

For more email info@zestbiotech. co.nz for a copy of the report with references included.

HORTNEWS

NOVEMBER 2021 2022 NOVEMBER

Outstanding Machine made in their for orchards

13 15

fields!

twin discs at the rear for use with a wide range of markd@ruralnews.co.nz materials.

Options include single WILLIAM GEUZE was situation, Leo Argent or double provide bandingwise attachbrought up on a Gisborne counsel while pointing ments or a double-belt property growing citrus to the best – if not only – AT THE recent Horticulsystem for compost delivand kiwifruit. way forward”. tureFrom NZ Industry awards, ery to the base of trees. an early age he “Miriana is shaping industry leadersinMiriana increases the ver- the had an interest technol- This future of the horticulture Stephens and Michael satility and extends the ogy that saw him heading industry by example and “Mick”the Ahern were season of the down diesel mechanic operating is passionate that as growacknowledged for their machine. route then chasing the ers Geuze we need to ensure we outstanding contributions notes that the cereal harvest in North are good kaitiaka of the to the industry. switch-over of spreadAmerica. land.”

Miriana Stephens, the ing elements only takes On his return to New Stephens told Hort recipient of the Presiaround five minutes, Zealand in 2015 he spotNews that she is grateful dent’s Trophy for leadmaking changing between ted an opportunity to to receive the award on ership, is a director of service the orchard indus- tasks easy and ensuring behalf of the families Wakatū Incorporation the machine is alwaysand set try in the Gisborne area. communities serves.

– which grows apples, up for the bestshe results.

This led him to form W G “This award recogkiwifruit and pears in In an industry that is Geuze Contracting, which increasingly looking for now has five employees information on appliand looks after around cation rates – alongside 150ha of kiwifruit, 20ha proof of placement – the of apples 400ha of “Theand impact of Covid-19 is causing machine is configured citrus crops. problems with getting workers with an automated rate The range of serand the overall wellbeing controller.

This allows the vices the ensuring business offers operator ‘dial in’ the includes spraying, mulch- That of our workforce. istowhy we required application rate, ing,must mowing, ripping, work together as a sector to which is maintained irregrass seeding and ferrealise our potentialspective and what wespeed. of forward tiliser/compost applicaThisdespite is achievedour via an tion.

Theachieve latter taskstogether, are can integral weighing system, entrusted to a specialchallenges.” alongside a GPS tracking ised Giltrap Engineersystem that delivers the ing Orchard spreader that placement data. arrived at the business “The Giltrap is such a around four years ago. nises all ofmachine, us, and we its Motueka Orchards well-built with Based around the excited about the possibilunder the Kono IncorWaikato company’s exper- some great engineering ities attention and our future” while porated business.

She is tise in larger agricultural and to detail,” still acknowledging that also involved in several spreaders, the orchard Geuze explains. at the moment things are governance groups, a spreader is built lowisand “Having done a huge tough in the hort sector,” founding member of the narrow to deal with the amount of work there are shereal says.

Primary Sector restricted accessCouncil typically no signs of wear and “The impact Covidand in 2016 was awarded found in orchards. Howtear – even afterofnearly 19 is causing problems the Aotearoa New Zeaever, despite its small stat- four years of use.” with workers and landthe Māori ure, unitWoman offers aBusi2.5 Hegetting adds that it’s easy ensuring the overall wellness Leader award. cubic metre capacity from to use, extremely accubeingwhile of ourany workforce.

Industry Service its 4.9m long, 1.66mAward wide rate, operaThat is why we recipient Mick Ahern has and 1.48m high dimentional or servicemust issues workbetogether as abysector been a figure in the hortisions. can dealt with a to realise ourcall. potential culture industry over In the case of for Geuze quick phone and“That whateven we can achieve 40 years, starting off with Contracting, the “spreadruns to Giltogether, despite our chalthe initial development ing” season typically traps using a computer lenges.” of the kiwifruit exporting runs from around April simulator system to diagAhern says he supports industry to and expanding through November. nose any problems we industry service awards as his career to cover such They start out with vermi- might come across.” they highlight how young diverse crops as onions cast applications in the This confidence has people can have a career and strawberries.

HortNZ winter, applying granular resulted in a second in horticulture, even if president Barry O’Neil fertilisers, powdered prod- spreader arriving – minus growing is not their thing. says that most recently ucts – like gypsum and its chassis and running “The horticulture Ahern has been involved lime – before moving onto gear. industry seems very in in efforts to boost NZ compost application, up This unit is unique grower-oriented but there strawberry exports to until the time of flowering that it has been converted are many, many worthVietnam. later in the year. in-house and mounted to while careers in other, In August, Danny a The unit features an Atom self-propelled important areas of offer the Bearsley won the Bledisstainless-steel hopper and sprayer chassis, to industry.” loe Cup award, covered – in this case – a tandem a spreading service that For more information recently Rural News axle and in large flotation treads lightly. about the Bledisloe Cup it (link at bottom of article). tyres. This helps spread Geuze says this make award in August : https:// O’Neil says that of the the load and also reduces more manoeuvrable and www.ruralnewsgroup. two September award compaction on the more productive, while co.nz/hort-news/hortwinners, Mick is “known region’s heavy clay soils. incorporating the fungeneral-news/lifetimefor his common sense and damentals The standard spreading of the Giltrap commitment-recognised ability… to sum uparound the element is based Orchard Spreader.

Mark Daniel

HortNZ president The orchard spreader is Barry presents built lowO’Neil and narrow to Miriana Stephens with deal with the restricted the President’s Trophy access typically found in for leadership. orchards.

Shark

®

H E R B I C I DE

Save pruning by removing suckers Innovative weed and sucker management for vines specially formulated for low drift. A revolutionary labour-saving option for vineyards as a one pass option to reduce sucker growth. Controlling suckers ensuring moisture and nutrients are utilised by the vines.

Visit www.fmccrop.nz for more information.

Always read and follow label directions. FMC and Shark® are trade marks of FMC Corporation or an affiliate. © 2019 FMC Corporation. All rights reserved. 8/19

FMC New Zealand Limited Phone: 0800 658 080 www.fmccrop.nz

14

HORTNEWS

NOVEMBER 2022

October frosts bites blueberry industry badly Pam Tipa

BLUEBERRIES NEW Zealand is working with the Rural Support Trust to reach out to the growers most impacted by the devastating unseasonable frosts in the Waikato in early October.

Blueberries NZ chairperson Liz Te Amo says almost half the production in the Waikato was wiped out by the recent frosts.

“Growers are reporting anywhere between 40% and 100% crop loss,” Te Amo told Hort News.

“That is massive devastation. The volumes are around the 1,200 to 1,400 tonne loss and the whole production is only 3,650 tonne a year so it has had absolutely devastating impact.

“Those growers would say they haven’t suffered a single event like this since October 25, 2001.”

Te Amo explains that there are two halves to the blueberry season in New Zealand now. A lot of the crops affected are those grown outdoors, which is post-Christmas production.

“There is preChristmas and postChristmas. Most of the pre-Christmas is the Australian varieties; Mountain Blue orchards varieties under tunnels and in substrate.

“Growing with Berry Co you will see those in the supermarkets as the Blue Royal brand. There are about 80ha of that growing under production now.

“So that’s the most significant amount of preChristmas crop. That harvest started in August,” she adds.

“That is August to December pretty much and you will be starting to see that come through in the supermarkets now.

None of that crop was affected by the frosts, so it is all okay.

“The other product you see in supermarkets now is grown in glasshouses.

You will see NZ Gourmet and you will see a bit of Driscolls coming into the supermarkets as well.”

Te Amo says the blue-

CONCERN FOR GROWER WELFARE “THE THING I worry most about is how people are coping,” Te Amo told Hort News.

“We are working closely with Rural Support Trust and amongst the executive making sure we reach out to growers most impacted and those we think need a bit more support.

“There is very little you can do but try and rally and tidy up the crop and prepare for next year.”

In terms of labour, she says taking 1,200 tonnes of production out of the market place – particularly out of the Waikato – means all the labour that was lined up in the Waikato now has to find another home.

“So, a bunch of it will be flowing into the Bay of Plenty probably for fruit picking.”

However, she says that those who live in the Waikato and aren’t very mobile, can’t just move easily and will have to find other jobs in the region.

“It impacts not just the growers but the whole supply chain, transport, the marketers, packhouses – the whole supply chain is impacted when you get such a significant loss of crop.

“I would say there is a bit a loosening of labour for berries because of that.”

berries season this year is definitely “a story of utter devastation, to going okay for growers that have protected cropping”.

A lot of the postChristmas product would have made up exports

Frost damage on the blueberry crop can be seen by these before and after photos : Inset: Frost damaged blueberry : PHOTOS: OAKBERRY FARMS.

to Australia “and 95% of our exports still go to Australia so obviously exports will be impacted quite strongly”.

Te Amo says losing 100% of your crop it would be devastating and

a lot of the growers are struggling to cope.

“There is a massive impact in terms of mental health, there’s a massive economic impact and there’s a massive impact in terms of getting ready

for the next year,” she told Hort News.

“Our hearts really go out to those who have been most impacted.

“I guess stronger older companies with robust balance sheets

are able often to weather the storm, look ahead and they’ve got the infrastructure to rebuild.

“I know a couple of the bigger guys will do that.”

However, she says there will be obvious

impacts.

“There will be people with mortgages, a lot of people thinking and needing to just shut the gate and go and get a fulltime job for the next six months.”

HORTNEWS

NOVEMBER 2022

15

Improve quality, reduce waste IN AN industry estimated to be worth up to US$9 billion a year, offering the highest quality flowers possible is at the forefront of any operation.

This is the challenge facing the global cut flower industry during all stages of processing and handling, from the grower to the consumer.

To analyse where impacts and temperature fluctuations occur, both within international supply chains and home delivery networks, UKbased MM Flowers turned to a data logger typically used in the fresh produce industry. The data captured gave the team an opportunity to understand exactly where problems occur and then develop mitigation methods and remedial procedures to reduce waste and improve the quality of the flowers.

Developed by UKbased crop quality specialists Martin Lishman Ltd, ImpacTrack is a shock sensing data logger that sits inside dummy produce shapes designed to replicate the movement characteristics of fresh produce during handling and transport.

Using advanced 3D printing technology, Martin Lishman’s inhouse design team can create virtually any shape of fresh produce that requires monitoring. “I discovered the ImpacTrack during my PhD, where the device was placed into a 3D-printed electronic parsnip and was used to identify destructive processes that cause damage during post-harvest process-

View our trailers at National Fieldays Site C17, C19

that the cost of the unit is relatively low it represents an unrivalled return on investment in this category of quality control”.

The company has worked with growers and producers worldwide to create a whole range of different ImpacTrack shapes.

New shapes with many different sizes, weights and shapes are constantly being created.

Booth says Martin Lishman’s service has always been exceptional, throughout his association with the company.

“The technology continues to progress and the price has come down – making employing the loggers at scale more realistic,” he adds.

“Access to the data is straightforward either via smartphone or via download for analysis. I would recommend the ImpacTrack to any fresh produce professional looking at reducing or mitigating processing or harvesting damage.” www.martinlishman. com

Martin Lishman’s data logger is designed to replicate the movement characteristics of fresh produce during handling and transport.

ing”, explains technical & quality developer of MM Flowers, David Booth.

“I could see its value for the cut flower market, so I worked with Martin Lishman to create what we have dubbed the Magic Flower”.

Designed to be the same size and shape as a premium-quality rose and complete with interchangeable stem length, the Magic Flower is placed in a bouquet for shipping.

“Supply chain challenges can cause sub-optimal transit conditions, so

monitoring temperature and impacts during transit is key to identifying opportunities to improve the quality of our flowers,” explains Booth.

ImpacTrack shapes can be made to a customer’s specific requirements, to ensure that they behave and react (including floating in water) in the same way as the real items being processed.

The data recorded is as close as possible to the actual impact and temperature exposures.

The data is transmitted in real time using Blue-

tooth to the ML Sensing smartphone app, making it ideal for on-site analysis of handling equipment.

Operators can also use the app to record the journey of flowers during shipping and other transport methods.

The data is downloaded at the end of the journey and provides a record of impacts sustained and the temperature history.

As well as helping to improve transport packaging, this can provide insurers with evidence of where

damage has taken place.

“The ImpacTrack gives MM Flowers an objective insight into how the flowers are being handled, highlighting impacts that would be very difficult to see with the naked eye and sudden changes in temperatures that could be potentially missed with traditional monitoring methods”, explains Gavin Lishman, managing director of Martin Lishman Ltd. “The cost savings from even minor machine or packaging adjustments can be significant; given

TRANSTAK BIN TRAILERS TRANSTAK BIN TRAILERS

TRANSTAK® 1500LE

Designed and Manufactured in NZ for Over 25 years

Designed and Manufactured in NZ for Over 25 years

®1500LE ® 3000LT TRANSTAK TRANSTAK

❱❱ NEW 2022 design 150mm narrower to improve ❱❱ Fast and efficient ❱❱ 6 Bin shifting high of fruit binCapacity shiftingfor capability withvolumes 3-4 bin capacity performance within rows. over longer distances. ❱❱ Transtak's Soft-Ride suspension system ensures fruit protection. ❱❱ Fast and efficient bin shifting capability with 3-4 bin❱❱capacity. ❱❱ Double acting and lift and tilt rams for provides maximum Single hydraulic connection forklift design fork control. ❱❱ Single hydraulic connection and forklift design provides simplicity of operation simplicity of operation. ❱❱ Few moving parts ensuring low maintenance requirements ❱❱ Extremely durable construction backed by *3 year warranty 8 different models available from 2-12 bins capacity

*TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY

*TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY

0800 303 063

– Horticultural Contractor – Horticultural Contractor

❱❱ Transtak’s Soft-Ride suspension system ensures fruit protection. ❱❱ Few moving parts ensuring low 8 different maintenance requirements. models available ❱❱ Extremely durable construction from 2-6 bin backed by *3 year capacity warranty.

"Hassle-free travel for mature travellers’’

• FAR NORTH & BAY OF ISLANDS (4 spots available) 7 days, depart 17 September. A leisurely coach tour of the Far North including the new Hundertwasser Art Centre and day trip to Cape Reinga.

• EAST COAST & NAPIER (6 spots available) 8 days, depart 21 September. A unique and exciting tour around the East Cape and return via the Northern Explorer train.

• CHATHAM ISLANDS DISCOVERY 8 days, depart 20 October. A special place for a safe and relaxing close-to-home all inclusive holiday.

• BEST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND 15 days, depart 22 November. A spectacular trip around the many highlights of the South Island taking in the wonders of Tekapo, Twizel, Stewart Island day excursion, the Milford Sound and Queenstown. Overnight cruise on the Milford Sound.

• NEW PLYMOUTH 'CHRISTMAS LIGHTS' 5 days, depart 23 December. A Christmas get away featuring the magnificent light display at Pukekura Park along with some great sightseeing during the trip.

• WAIKIKI BEACH & HAWAII CRUISE 11 days, depart 25 May 2023. A 'Pride of America' cruise for 7 nights with a Waikiki highlights 3 day stop over including Pearl Harbor and Oahu round Island tour.

• TAHITI & SOCIETY ISLANDS CRUISE 10 days, depart 21 July 2023. Set sail on board Le Paul Gauguin for an unforgettable journey to discover idyllic sands and atolls. Tour includes flights to/from Papeete.

For full details

Phone 0800 11 60 60

View our products in www.transtak.co.nz • sales@transtak.co.nz www.transtak.co.nz • sales@transtak.co.nz

0800 303 063

“Thanks to all the Transtak Team, “Thanks to all the Transtak Team, your bin trailers are amazing!!” your bin trailers are amazing!!”

ESCORTED TOURS 2022/23

action on Youtube

www.travelwiseholidays.co.nz

Congratulations to all our finalists and best of luck this week

Who will be the 2022 Young Horticulturist of the Year?

REGAN JUDD

Representing Horticulture New Zealand Fruit and Vegetable Sectors

COURTNEY CHAMBERLAIN

Representing Florists & Flower Growers NZ Inc

AMY CLARK

Representing NZ Plant Producers Incorporated

GUILLAUME CHABBERT

JODIE MCDONNELL

Representing Registered Master Landscapers New Zealand

SAM BAIN

Representing NZ Winegrowers

Representing Amenity Horticulture Supported by NZ Recreation Association

SOLOMON CALDWELL Representing Arboriculture

event.manager@younghort.co.nz • www.younghort.co.nz Find us on Facebook and Instagram @YoungHortNZ

The competition is managed by the Royal NZ Institute of Horticulture Education Trust