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NZ kiwifruit season uncertain as cold snap hits flower development

Initial excitement for an outstanding kiwifruit season in New Zealand has been moderated following a colder September, which impacted flower development for some growers. Despite a record-breaking production of 197 million trays, valued at $3.1 billion in the previous year, the anticipated harvest for autumn 2024 faces uncertainty due to uneven flower numbers across orchards, particularly in Bay of Plenty and Gisborne. Fruition Horticulture consultant Sandy Scarrow observed that some orchards experienced floral bud abortion, leading to patchy flower emergence. This variability is attributed to the timing of bud development during the September cold snaps.

Orchardist David Jensen from Bay of Plenty noted the season's inconsistency, with two of his orchards showing below-average flower counts, potentially indicating a 30% reduction in fruit yield compared to the previous year. However, he mentioned that the fruit size might increase, which could offset some of the yield loss. Despite these challenges, the industry remains hopeful, with much of the growing season still ahead. The impact of the cold weather on the final fruit yield and size is yet to be fully determined.

Source: RNZ

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