Hort sector in rebound
the sector to move forward.
THE HORTICULTURE sector is going through a very ambitious growth phase and the Government wants to see it grow.
That’s the message from Associate Agriculture Minister Nicola Grigg who has special responsibility for horticulture.
Just back in Parliament after six months on maternity leave, Grigg says while certain horticultural regions have suffered badly because of adverse weather, notably Cyclone Gabrielle, she believes there is a lot of “ambition” in
STRAIGHT AND WHITE
WHEN IT comes to growing parsnips, the Motts family from Karioi near Ohakune are hard to beat. Jeremy and his wife Amy (pictured) run the business, Mott’s Premium Produce with Jeremy’s mum, Kandy. Their produce goes mainly to the Foodstuffs group: the supermarkets say they want them straight and white and that’s exactly how the Motts family grow their parsnips. The Motts pre-pack produce in each customer’s style, and they have custom designed a special harvester to ensure the parsnips are presented the way the supermarkets prefer. Full story on Page 3
“Horticulture is rapidly turning into an $8 billion industry, which is exciting and lines up with the Government’s goal of doubling exports in the coming ten years,” she told Hort News.
Grigg says the Government has spent many millions of dollars helping growers in Hawke’s Bay and Tairawhiti clean up the silt and restore some of the infrastructure destroyed by the cyclone. She says while there is still more to do in the area, the focus from a government point of view is to work on projects that will enable growers to improve their productivity. She says growers say they need help and
point to things such as new cultivars and access to markets.
Grigg says a key focus of the Government now is to do things such as amending the old RMA, revising the NPS freshwater plans and supporting water storage. She says the Government’s review of the banking system should also help growers to get better access to capital to get their operations back on their feet.
“During my maternity leave I went around Canterbury growers, making sure that their feedback is being heard by the relevant ministers, be that the Minister for the RMA, the Minister of Agriculture and so on, because the
farmer or the grower is the end user of those regulations.
“They must feed their views into the systems, and I told them to get to that select committee and make a submission because you need to be heard and we need your expertise and information to make a good law,” she says.
Grigg says she recently spoke at the Apple and Pear conference and told them that for too long the industry has been hamstrung by red tape and unsuitable regulation. She says she takes her hat off to the apple and pear industry for the way it has bounced back from Cyclone Gabrielle and other adverse weather events. She
says changing the regulatory system to be more practical and farmer/grower friendly will make a huge difference.
“I am particularly impressed that the apple and pear industry is forecast to surpass the $1 billion in export revenue in 2024-25. This is a tremendous effort and speaks to the values of New Zealanders and the strength and resilience of growers,” she says.
Grigg says NZ’s regulations have not kept pace with genetic technologies and says this had made it difficult for NZ to capture the benefits of these new options. She says the new rules that government will introduce will be fit for purpose and future focused.
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Peter Burke peterb@ruralnews.co.nz
Blemish-free fruit and vegetable days over?
COULD BLEMISH-FREE fruit and vegetables be a thing of the past?
According to the latest United Fresh Mid-Year Trend Report, consumers are now embracing imperfections in their fresh produce as a way of reducing food waste.
While Woolworth’s The Odd Bunch brand has proved popular, the rise in ‘ugly’ fruit has led Kiwis to look to home subscription services like Wonky Box and Misfit Garden.
Wonky Box cofounder, Angus Simms says demand for a product like his has been “quite good”.
“Consumers in our economy at the moment are driven by value over a lot of other things,” he told Hort News. “I think Wonky Box fits into that convenience space because of the home delivery aspect but we also, because we’ve got a value-added product, one that is affordable, we’re
“If you want to reduce food waste, you’ve got to eat the bent parsnip and the carrot with two legs.”
seeing that the demand is still there for it.”
Wonky Box, which launched its fruit-only box earlier this year, was co-founded by Simms and his partner Katie Jackson in response to the significant amount of food waste experienced by growers as a result of supermarkets’ cosmetic standards.
The couple had been working around New Zealand amid the Covid-19 pandemic, travelling the country in a campervan and working seasonal fruit picking jobs in the South Island.
“It was a real interesting time that summer because there was a lot of bad weather. The summer of 2021 had storms and
all sorts of issues, floodings and things like that happen, which were so unusual for that time of year but what had happened was it had thrown off a lot of the crops that the growers were making or the orchards were producing to the point where they were having to throw away or leave a load in the paddocks or in the orchards that weren’t able to be sold to export markets or supermarkets,” Simms says.
He says he and Jackson were “in the thick of it”, witnessing what growers and orchardists were going through.
“Most of the time, if not nearly all the time, a lot of these reasons for reject were quite hard to comprehend almost, also coinciding with the fact that produce was quite expensive if you were to go and buy it from your local retailer,” he says. “We figured there might be a solution.”
The business works on a grower-led model, meaning the control is in the growers’ hands.
“So, whatever is available from one week to the next, whatever’s in abundance or surplus or is there sitting on farm that they might struggle to move into retailers or overseas, we’ll piece together a box based on what’s available and, as a result, we pass any savings… onto our customers,” Simms says.
THE CRADLE AND THE CORRIDORS
“I’VE STILL got my trainer wheels on”. That’s how Nicola Grigg is describing her first weeks back in Parliament after six months maternity leave and now looking after her new baby in the precincts of Parliament.
She says it’s funny being both a new mum and a new minister at the same time, but says she’s very lucky having a great support team around her which helps her cope.
“I’ve got my baby up here and my
office looks like a crèche. I have a really good nanny and his dad comes up sometimes as well, so this is the new norm for me,” she says.
In many ways Grigg is making history. It’s 40 years since a National MP
It’s a model another imperfect fruit company, Misfit Garden, also follows.
Jennifer Long, the company’s co-founder says Misfit Garden was an idea that came out of the first lockdown.
“We [Long and cofounder Sofia Dekovic] were reading news articles about growers who had baby veg that were too large because all the restaurants were shut… and so, we got in touch with one of the growers and he was like ‘Oh my God, I’ve got all these massive golden beetroot that I don’t have a market for’ and so we took some down to the local market and started selling them with a trestle table and it just sort of grew from there,” Long told Hort News.
“So, it was a small idea that grew,” she says.
Long says their grower-led model – as opposed to a consumer demand-driven model - helps to reduce food waste.
“We communicate
has had a baby while in government and that was Ruth Richardson back in 1983.
“You have to make things work, because we want female representation in Parliament and so in some
with growers and we basically ask them what they want to harvest… we basically chat to them and say ‘hey, what have you got in the paddocks that maybe you need to pick in the next week or so?’.”
“We plan the box around them,” she says. However, she says there’s a significant aspect to reducing food waste that is about educating consumers.
“Because we’re so used to buying perfect things at the supermarket and if you’ve not been exposed to growing things yourself, you don’t understand that not everything goes perfectly,” Long says.
“If you want to reduce food waste, you’ve got to eat the bent parsnip and the carrot with two legs,” she adds.
Long describes the growers Misfit Garden works with as their “backbone”.
“The whole point of what we’re doing is to support them… it’s the whole reason that we’re doing what we’re doing,” she concludes.
ways I am something of a crash test dummy.
“If I can succeed in being a good mum, minister and local MP that should motivate other women to do the same,” she says. – Peter Burke
Jessica Marshall jessica@ruralnews.co.nz
Wonky Box co-founder, Angus Simms says demand for a product like his has been “quite good”.
The parsnip people of Karioi
THE SUPERMARKETS say they want them straight and white and that’s exactly how the Motts family grow their parsnips at Karioi near Ohakune.
They do this on land where, on a clear day, snow-covered Mt Ruapehu provides a stunning backdrop to their fields of parsnips and smaller crops of swedes and beetroot.
The growing conditions are challenging at times. The cold of course which is a positive for the crops they produce, but it can get wet and windy and working the land is hard yakka.
Kandy Mott, her son Jeremy and his wife Amy run the business, Mott’s Premium Produce, on a total of around about 60 hectares of fertile soil. Their produce goes mainly to the Foodstuffs group which runs New World, Pak’nSave and Four Square stores.
The Motts pre-pack produce in each customer’s style, and they have custom designed a special harvester to ensure the parsnips are presented the way the supermarkets prefer.
The Mott family have been farming this land for three generations. Kandy’s father-in-law originally leased the land and her now deceased husband Craig and his brother Richard worked for their father. In the early days they grew carrots, parsnips and swedes, which are com-
monly grown around Ohakune. When brotherin-law Richard decided he no longer wished to be a commercial grower, Kandy, who has a banking background, and husband Craig were able to buy him out and eventually purchased the land they had been leasing.
Sadly, Kandy’s husband Craig died in 2017, but at that point, son Jeremy and wife Amy entered the business. Their roles are defined but they also help each other when the pressure is on. Kandy runs the overall business and takes orders, Amy looks after the admin side, including staff, and Jeremy leads the team that grows the parsnips and other crops. They employ four fulltime staff and a further ten during the harvest time.
Growing the right parsnip to meet the demanding standards of the market is quite a challenge, says Jeremy. He says getting the right varieties of seed is not easy and then getting it to germinate can be a problem.
“Sometimes only 60% of the seed we plant germinates, so getting the placement of seed in the ground is interesting – avoiding large gaps between individual vegetables in the paddock. Then it’s a case of dealing with diseases such as nematodes and grass grubs that can damage a crop,” he says.
The Mott’s begin planting seeds as early as September and this continues almost until Christmas, which means they start harvesting in February and go through until October. One of the
advantages of growing parsnips and crops such as carrots in the cooler central North Island region is that the matured crop can remain in the ground for months before it is finally harvested. The cool ground acts as nature’s cool store.
In the early days the crop had to be picked by hand – a back breaking and time-consuming exercise.
The mechanical harvesting of carrots is quite common, but parsnips is a different story. Undaunted by this, about 11 years ago Jeremy designed and built his own parsnip mechanical harvester – a project which took him about six months and proved some of doubters in his own family wrong.
Carrot harvesters are readily available but are
not suited for parsnips because they can bruise them. So the end result was a harvester which is gentler on the parsnips, resulting in less wastage of this valuable crop.
“Another factor behind this was to reduce labour costs. By handpicking we were employing about 16 people – now we have cut this by about 25%. At the same time, we have mechanised the washing and packing process which improves quality and saves labour costs,” he says.
The mechanical harvester does not uproot the whole parsnip – rather a blade cuts off the vegetable in the ground to a size of roughly 230mm, which is what the supermarket requires, and a conveyor belt takes it to a bin on the tractor which pulls the harvesting machine.
QUALITY ISSUE
THE VARIETIES of parsnips the Motts grow is dictated by what the buyer and consumer want says Amy Mott.
“We could get varieties of parsnip that have better shape, are more resistant to fungal disease, potentially better tasting and harder, but they are creamy in colour and roots tend to break off, sometimes leaving an orange mark. The supermarkets simply want a vegetable with a nice crown, about 230 millimetres long – that looks great, so that’s what we do.”
The Motts pride themselves on producing a premium product and this is where the numbers get mouth-wateringly massive. In their quest to produce this quality vegetable only about 30% get sold for human consumption while a further 10% make it into processing. The remaining 60% end up being fed to cattle and sheep. By way of comparison, the wastage rate for carrots is about 40% and potatoes about 10%.
Jeremy says he has another farmer who comes and picks up the parsnips left in the ground to feed to his cattle and sheep.
“Traditionally people used to feed out reject carrots, but the animals can get carotene poisoning and they become addicted to the high sugar content of the carrot. Parsnips have more fibre and less water, and once the cattle acquire the taste of the parsnips, they will eat them ahead of carrots and swedes,” he says.
Innovation, hard work and determination are a hallmark of the Mott family. The road to the success they now enjoy has not been without its challenges and personal grief. But while it may be cold and challenging, the almost daily sight of beautiful Mt Ruapehu makes for a unique and stunning place to live and work.
Peter Burke peterb@ruralnews.co.nz
Jeremy Mott
Kandy Mott runs the overall business and takes orders.
Developing a billion-dollar premium cider industry
CIDER APPLES New Zea-
Limited
land
has released a detailed ‘roadmap’ report that investigates how a premium cider industry could be developed in New Zealand.
The roadmap charts a course towards achieving a billion-dollar export sector within 15 years. Supported by rigorous economic analysis, the roadmap confirms substantial returns are possible for both cider apple growers and cider makers.
Industry experts John Powell, a seasoned cider maker, and Allan White, a leading apple breeder, collaborated on the report. Together, they cofounded Cider Apples NZ to spearhead initiatives aimed at realising this ambitious vision.
Their efforts were bolstered by funding from MPI and AGMARDT, enabling research into establishing a flourishing premium cider industry
in New Zealand. This initiative is said to represent a significant milestone in New Zealand’s agricultural diversification strategy. It focuses on creating highvalue export opportunities by leveraging the country’s renowned agricultural expertise and optimising the use of
non-premium agricultural land. “We envision a future where New Zealand premium cider stands at the forefront of global markets, celebrated for its quality and authenticity,” says Powell. Today, the global cider market, though currently the smallest among fermented alcoholic bever-
ages, shows promising growth trends. According to the Weston’s 2024 Cider Report, global consumption exceeds 2.6 billion litres, with a notable shift towards premiumisation echoing trends seen in wine and craft beer.
Powell says the success of New Zealand’s Sauvignon Blanc and aromatic
hops has inspired industry leaders to turn their focus to cider, poised to capitalise on consumer demand for unique flavours and authentic provenance.
“Globally, premium cider categories are gaining traction as a loweralcohol alternative to wine, a gluten-free option compared to beer, and due to their high levels of antioxidants and polyphenols. The strongest growth is observed among affluent millennials and Gen-Z consumers seeking sophisticated beverage choices. Our cider apple breeding programme is achieving remarkable flavours and aromatics that will resonate with global cider enthusiasts,” says Powell.
To achieve the projected $1 billion export milestone, White says approximately 2232 hectares of cider apple orchards would be needed, producing 125 million litres of cider annually, assuming an average export price of $8 per litre.
“The roadmap confirms substantial potential for New Zealand’s premium cider industry. We are actively seeking expressions of interest from apple growing businesses and beverage producers to work together with Cider Apples New Zealand on a new funding application to progress the roadmap and accelerate sector growth,” says Powell.
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
KEY HIGHLIGHTS of the report include: Profitability Potential: Exploration of the economic benefits across the cider value chain. Market Research: Identification of key export markets and trends, aligning with the global trend towards ‘premiumization’ in beverages. Cultivar Development: Opportunities for advancing and commercialising new cider apple varieties tailored for premium quality. Regulatory Landscape: Insights into regulatory considerations crucial for the sector’s development.
Stakeholder Engagement: Discussions with cideries, landowners, and Māori/iwi groups to align production with consumer preferences and market demands.
At its core, the project seeks to develop unique New Zealand ciders that captivate global consumers, much like New Zealand’s Sauvignon Blanc and aromatic hops have done with their distinct flavours and quality. Central to this vision is the cultivation of new cider apple cultivars boasting distinctive levels of tannins, polyphenols, and sugars, coupled with enhanced pest and disease resistance and tolerance to climate change. The initiative does not target the current practice of using processing grade fresh apples or traditional cider apple varieties that are often less productive and susceptible to pests and diseases.
“Cider, a beverage with a rich history dating back over 4000 years, is experiencing a global resurgence. Our ambition is to pioneer a new era of premium cider production in New Zealand, driven by innovation and consumer demand,” says Allan White.
The report was launched in Auckland two weeks ago. The comprehensive findings show potential to redefine the landscape of New Zealand’s beverage industry, identifying key strategies and work streams essential for coordinating this emerging sector’s growth trajectory.
The proposed 7-year programme aims to refine six key workstreams, including accelerated cider apple breeding, orchard design, consumer research, industry capability development, regulatory frameworks, and market pathways.
“Developing successful unique cider apple varieties demands a consumerdriven approach. This initiative calls for collaboration between cider makers and apple growers to propel our roadmap forward,” says Powell.
Apple breeder Allan White (inset) says about 2232ha of cider apple orchards would be needed, producing 125 million litres of cider annually.
Avo growers getting smashed
caused retail prices to fall,” Piggott says.
NEW ZEALAND Avocado chief executive
Brad Siebert says avocado growers are facing increasing cost pressure across all areas of their business.
Siebert says these include orchard inputs, labour and interest rates.
His comments come after the release of the Rabobank Global Avocado Update 2024, which saw a 35% year-on-year decline in production for the 2023/24 crop.
RaboResearch analyst Pia Piggott says Cyclone Gabrielle impacted avocado quality, meaning that in 2023, exports were “well back” on the prior year, with total volume exports declining 51% year-on-year.
“While, in the domestic market, an oversupply of lower-grade fruit
Despite this, she still says there were some bright spots.
“Exports to China in 2023 grew by 159% yearon-year (YOY), and this is a really positive sign as we see efforts to build market share in Asia as an essential step if New Zealand wants to become a more significant global player in term of avocado exports,” Piggott says.
Meanwhile, Siebert says current favourable growing conditions provide a positive outlook for orchard productivity in the upcoming season, alongside new and expanding market opportunities.
“While some sense of rationalisation will be seen as growers look deeper into their own on orchard costs towards maximising profitability, the industry continues to
see year on year increases in fruit volumes from more recent plantings,” he told Hort News Siebert says that
over the past few years, adverse weather events have impacted crop volumes and quality, however, summer 2023/24
has provided favourable growing conditions.
“The industry crop estimates point to an increase in production and in quality outcomes leading to an optimistic view in opportunities across domestic and export markets,” he adds.
He says the adverse effects of Cyclone Gabrielle forced the industry to review many aspects of how it operates and to reinforce best practise.
“This led to discussions on how the industry can be better equipped to navigate these seasonal challenges whether they be driven from environmental or global supply & demand impacts. The past season has proven how vulnerable the crop can be to adverse weather events, specifically wind, with fruit being downgraded away from export towards the domestic market in the 2023-24 season,” Siebert says.
“Reducing the compliance burden and arbitrary restrictions across the entire supply chain is now firmly in focus so that opportunities to find value can be capitalised on whatever mother nature throws our way.”
Jessica Marshall jessica@ruralnews.co.nz
NZ Avocado chief executive Brad Siebert says growers are facing increasing cost pressure including orchard inputs, labour and interest rates.
Award-winning orchid growers not afraid to try new things
FOR THE second year in a row a horticultural enterprise has taken out the Supreme Award in the Auckland Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA).
Pukekohe’s Utopia Nurseries grows Cymbidium orchids which are exported and sold locally, potted chrysanthemums and small volumes of laurel leaves, sold to florists. Peter Rensen started his nursery operation 30 years ago. A lifestyle block next door was later bought, with more land added to make up 30 hectares. There are now 1.4ha of glasshouses and 0.9ha of shade house. Two streams have had their sides have been planted out so once the trees grow, they’ll provide shade, increasing water quality. A pond which was full of blackberry and willow has been cleared, creating a haven for ducks.
While there were around 150 orchid growers throughout the country 25 years ago Peter told a field day at his property in mid-May that had now dropped to around onesixth due to exchange rate changes. He still exports mainly white orchids to Japan, where the company carries out its own marketing, the United States, Australia, Canada and China. Up to 30% of its orchids are sold locally to wholesalers and florists.
The plants last for 10-15 years, being split up to increase numbers, with all propagation carried out in house. Harvesting is carried out by some of the nursery’s 10 staff, using knives positioned at the end of each row, which will then be dipped into a pouch of disinfectant they carry after each cut so there’s no risk of any disease cross infection. They’re loaded onto trolleys which are then pulled out into the middle aisle to go off for packing into boxes.
Peter’s son, Michael, who also works in the business, has designed a computer system which schedules tasks to be carried out such as spray applications right through to invoicing sales.
With constant knowledge of which delivery company is taking orchids to which customer, it’s been possible to reduce the sales team by one person. And with the business’s own Excel system the payroll which used to take up to five hours can be done in five minutes.
Michael has also been behind the instillation of 64 solar panels producing 20 kilowatts of energy and the hiring out of the packing area when it’s not being used for its primary purpose for the shooting of music videos.
Plans are to move orchids into an area now used for growing chry-
EASIER TO GROW THAN GRASS
A CROP that’s easier to grow than grass and may provide future fuel for glasshouse heating is already providing some exciting results only a few years after being planted by Peter Rensen.
There are two hectares of Miscanthus, or elephant grass already planted with plans to put more in.
“I can’t believe how easy it is to grow,” he says.
Not only does it thrive on poor and dry soils such as clay, but it can also be used to mop
up wastewater. Being sterile it doesn’t spread like bamboo and grows to two metres tall every year for up to 25 years.
Around 10,000 rhizomes/ha were propagated by nursery staff, a labour-intensive task, but he believes tissue culture might be able to be used in the future.
Due to its drought-tolerance, it can be planted in November, then a crop averaging 12 tonnes/ha is harvested into bales by a forage harvester in August.
At present it’s sold for animal bedding but in the United Kingdom and Canada it’s used for fuelling power stations. Its moisture level of just 12% means it’s drier than wood chips and requires no predrying.
Peter’s wary of having too much labour involved in growing, harvesting and burning the new fuel source but says there could always be an alternative use for the crop.
“Parents might pay to lose their kids in it.”
santhemums once they go into a new fully automated part of the operation. At present it takes eight people two hours to move the potted plants which are sent off to supermarkets every week. The most popular colours are pink and white, with 13 hours of darkness provided by curtains being needed for them to flower “seven weeks to the day” after they’re removed.
Peter got into growing the plants 15 months ago after a grower north of Auckland exited the business, with a bonus of being able to retain more staff year-round.
“It was a big learning curve, and things can go wrong quickly.”
A third crop of Italian Rucus, also known as Milano or laurel is grown in a separate shade house from where it’s sold locally year-round to florists for use at weddings and funerals.
They’re trying to introduce nematodes to control pest beetles where chemical sprays have only limited success, the continuation of a chemical reduction strategy which has previously seen the introduction of predator mites.
Ross Neal, chairman of the Auckland BFEA committee, told the field day Utopia Nurseries was an example of putting good environmental practices in place and of not being afraid to try new things to see if they worked.
Glenys Christian
Peter Rensen with orchids growing in his Pukekohe nursery.
Homegrown tech helps plan harvest
BERRY SUPPLIER
The Fresh Berry Company has rolled out a locally developed forecasting platform that will allow its growers to precisely plan planting and harvest times, to ensure fruit hits store shelves when consumers most want it.
Developed by Kiwi agritech company HortPlus, the Berry Harvest Planning Tool combines regional weather data with berry-specific growing models for key varieties of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries supplied by The Fresh Berry Company.
The Fresh Berry Company director Dean Astill says the tool’s introduction this month allowed the company and its grower network to quickly run multiple scenarios and view near-realtime graphs illustrating optimal times for planting and harvesting.
“100%, this gives us the edge by bringing more accuracy and confidence to our forecasting and harvest planning,” Astill says.
“It’s a great tool for our sales team and it gives our agronomists and growers the data they need to stagger planting to achieve harvest at optimum times for consumer demand, including at times of year when some berries are traditionally difficult to find in stores.”
The tool based its projections on ‘growing degree hours’, a measure for the number of hours above a base threshold temperature that a berry or fruit needs to be exposed to grow and ripen for harvest. This was more accurate than the ‘growing degree days’ measure used by many others in the industry and allowed for increased precision.
Astill says that in the
past, planting and harvest planning was com monly done by The Fresh Berry Company agrono mists using spreadsheets that took hours or days to create. The new digital tool “supercharged” that process by allowing dif ferent planting and har vest scenarios to be run in just a few clicks.
“It saves so much time and the other beauty of it is that the models are dynamic. As the weather and forecast changes the projected harvest timing updates – it’s not static like a model created in a spreadsheet.”
HortPlus director Mike Barley says his company was proud to work with another New Zealand company to pioneer new technology.
“The Harvest Planning Tool does all the heavy lifting and data crunching, so The Fresh
Berry Com pany staff don’t have to. It’s a great example of the value digital tools can add – anyone can collect data but making it useful and
usable is often the hard part.”
Barley says the tool had potential to positively impact the berry market.
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The Berry Harvest Planning Tool combines regional weather data with berry-specific growing models for key varieties.
Greater certainty around harvest times could also have downstream benefits for labour and workforce planning, he says.
“There’s huge potential for us to work with The Fresh Berry Company and others across New Zealand’s horticulture industry to create similar solutions for other fruit and crop types.
“Chill units is another measure we could easily visualise and model for huge benefit when it comes to dormancy breaking, flowering and harvest planning for other crop types.”
Astill says the new tool was the latest in a string of innovations introduced by The Fresh Berry Company. The company will
continue investigating opportunities to harness innovation that drives quality, sustainability and grower profitability which soon could include robotics in its operations.
“Innovation is super important in the berry industry as it’s a competitive space,” Astill says.
“We are committed to ensuring our customers and consumers have a delightful eating experience with the berries our growers grow. It’s a privilege to deliver these experiences and there’s a real sense of responsibility within our team to consistently achieve that goal.”
The Fresh Berry Company is New Zealand’s leading supplier of berries, with its sister company Berry Farms NZ operating out of Hawke’s Bay and a network of independent growers in Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Northland.
Croplands goes nuts with Nelson
Daniel
Mark
CROPLANDS AND Nelson
Manufacturing Company
Inc, a California-based manufacturer of air-blast sprayers, has announced a new distribution partnership to deliver a range of trailed and self-propelled orchard sprayer Nelson Hardie units to the rapidly growing Australian and New Zealand nut and tall tree crop markets.
The agreement is said to leverage Croplands’ extensive commercial footprint and decades of horticulture expertise, which should benefit the Australian and New Zealand nut and tree crop markets.
With the Australian and New Zealand nut and tall tree crop markets
expanding in recent years, the Nelson Hardie range of orchard sprayers is ideally suited to denselyplanted crops such as almond and citrus and in challenging mature tall tree crops like macadamias and avocados.
The extensive range is equipped with heavy duty chassis and stainless-steel tanks as standard, with PTO fan driven models
fitted with a single 34” or 40” fan or dual 34” fans on models up to 4000 litres.
Engine driven models are powered by John Deere power plants from
COMBINING TRACK AND TYRE
WHILE THE last fifty years has seen massive evolution and development of the humble tractor tyre, the last two decades have seen its weaknesses addressed with the arrival of rubber track systems.
The concept offers less damage to the soil, increased traction and potentially higher operating speeds, but in most cases, the configuration of the systems doesn’t lend itself to the orchard or vineyard sectors, where narrow rows and often sloping terrain cause issues.
Trelleborg has addressed the problem of protecting the topsoil and reducing damage to tree roots or vines with its PneuTrac hybrid system, said to offer the advantages of rubber tracks, with reduced overall width and less lateral slippage.
The design of PneuTrac sees the traditional tyre sidewall changed to Cup Wheel Technology, with the ability to carry loads, flexibility and
importantly an increase in footprint of around 10% for a similar sized conventional tyre, which helps to reduce soil compaction.
125 – 325hp, equipped with a single 40”, dual 34”, dual 40” and dual 46” fans fitted to the Super 92 model. The new SP40 self-propelled sprayer features 4WD drive and
steer, a 174hp JD engine and a single 40” fan in 2000l – 4000l tank sizes.
“Croplands are excited to partner with an iconic brand that complements our own range, allow-
Progressive Traction technology sees an innovative tread lug design, with a wide lug base increasing traction by up to 6%, stability, particularly on slopes, improved self-cleaning capability, a 60% improvement in handling and steering, as well as a 160% increase in comfort over tracks.
Trelleborg notes that PneuTrac is around 20% lighter than typical track systems and is efficient over the whole contact area, unlike tracks, which deliver the best results at the rear of the assembly, ensuring there is a more even distribution of traction and a reduction in soil damage.
One impressed user of PneuTrac tyres is Ross Tanner of Tanner Spraying, contractors based in Katikati. Having run the system on his New Holland tractor since 2022, Ross com-
ing us to offer a complete line of air-blast sprayers to the rapidly expanding Australasian nut and tree crop market,” says Sean Mulvaney, general manager Croplands.
“Both of our companies use common componentry and share a dual focus on optimising technology through set-up, calibration and after sales support.
“We are committed to a seamless transition for current owners and look forward to further embedding the Nelson Hardie range into our local markets.” www.croplands.com/ au/product/nelsonhardie-orchardsprayers/
ments, “the PneuTrac tyres mean I can go places I couldn’t go to before and with much less mess”.
“We strongly believe that PneuTrac is a game changer for the NZ viticulture market, demonstrating a commitment to sustainable farming by helping to protect some of our most valuable agricultural assets,” says Mark Prentice, national sales manager for TRS Tyre & Wheel Ltd.
“With the roots of vines susceptible to damage, the system helps preserve the structure of the topsoil by reducing lateral machine slippage that could easily be a disaster for both the soil and roots,” says Mark.
PneuTrac is available in VF sizes 280/70R18, 280/70R20, 420/70R28 and 480/65R28. – Mark Daniel
Trailed and self-propelled orchard sprayer Nelson Hardie units are being introduced in Australian and New Zealand nut and tall tree crop markets.
Progressive Traction technology sees an innovative tread lug design, with a 160% increase in comfort over tracks.
Patented Mulching Chamber. Easy adjustable rear hood fully enclosed for both grass and prunings. Eliminates projectiles so protects your crop from damage.