Spring has arrived and the first green tips are out. It would help if the wind would blow away the rain clouds to help the soil dry out, as this would allow us to spread fertilizer and spray out weeds to be ready for the next season. May it be a good one.
Zespri has released its August forecast for the season. It is disappointing that OGR for both Gold and Green kiwifruit was reduced by a substantial amount. It is not the customer that let us down, but rather increases in the cost of fuel and materials as well as the high number of onshore and offshore fruit loss. The latter is the highest fruit loss deduction ever, costing growers hundreds of millions of dollars.
Our industry needs to and will address this issue, starting with a quality review of the whole supply chain. If the Zespri roadshow in Napier is any indication, there are plenty of ideas of how we can overcome this issue. We have a history of working together to find a way forward. To ensure all growers have a channel to share their ideas, NZKGI has created a ‘feedback box’ for growers to submit their comments. To submit your feedback on the quality review topic, please send an email to: qualityreview@nzkgi.org.nz.
The Zespri team is coming to town twice in the week commencing 19th September. The Global Extension Team (GET) is holding a Spring Field day covering how to grow high-quality fruit and protect the crop on Tuesday, 20 September 2022 at 10.00am at Ngai Tukairangai No.2 Orchard, 2 Moteo Pa Road, Puketapu.
Two days later, Zespri will host a “Shed Talk”. This is an interactive format where Growers move around stations to discuss and explore relevant topics, including the licensing review, fruit quality, and the development of improved and new digital tools and services. This will take place on Thursday, 22 September at 2pm at 122 Twyford Road, Hastings. You can register here.
Bye for now,
Jens
Jens Liesebach
KGI Lower North Island Representative