Jens Liesebach, KGI Lower North Island Representative
Several regions have been impacted by hail this season, causing significant damage to crops. The Motueka region severely affected in December with kiwifruit, apple, berry and hops orchards all showing significant signs of damage- some as much as 80-100 percent loss of crop. About 2.2 million trays of Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit and 300,000 trays of Zespri Green Kiwifruit were lost- and a long road to recovery for these orchards.
Zespri held a Red19 Fielday last week at their showcase orchard in Tauranga to hear from subject matter experts. This was an opportunity to see the red variety pre-harvest and share learnings prior to the upcoming licence tender round in April 2021. Zespri is also offering the opportunity to view the variety in other growing regions (Edgecumbe, Opotiki, Waikato, Auckland, Northland, Gisborne and Motueka) and to hear from local growers on the trial experience.
Zespri have announced that from the 2020 season, the final season progress payment will be moved from 31 May to the end of the first full week of June as approved by the Industry Supply Group (ISG). For the 2020 season, this will mean that the final payment date will occur on 4 June, 2021. A change will be made to the 2021 Supply Agreement to reflect this timing.
The Zespri pre-harvest team will be running informative forums mid-February focusing on the GAP strategic review, pest monitoring and the China protocol and their aims for the future, residues, and contractors on 26 February at 9:30am at the War Memorial Centre, Napier.
The Zespri Grower Roadshow is on 3 March at 9am at the Crown Hotel, Napier.
See you there.
