The 2024-2025 season is nearing completion. While yields and quality have been reported as favorable by most growers, orchard gate returns are not meeting expectations for some. Monitoring of this situation will continue.
The Board will hold its March meeting in Central Otago next week. An informal gathering is scheduled for the evening of Tuesday, March 25, in Alexandra. Details will be sent via email. Growers are encouraged to reach out if they do not receive this information.
Recent discussions indicate a generally positive outlook, with concerns about market dynamics and post-Covid inflation. Interest rates showing favorable trends are noted as a positive factor.
The annual conference is set for June 25-26 in Blenheim. The first day includes field activities, while the second day features local and international speakers. Evening sessions will provide networking opportunities for growers and industry participants.
Recognizing the importance of grower engagement, the Board has subsidized conference registration, offering an early bird price of $395 for growers. This presents an opportunity to gain insights from speakers and site visits.
SummerGreen 2025 starts with updates on April 1 in Hawke's Bay and April 3 in Central Otago. Topics include a commercial analysis of Future Orchard Planting Systems (FOPS), an update from Andrew Curtis on irrigation research, a review of the Oriental fruit fly incursion, and a discussion on Summerfruit NZ's future research and development. The summerfruit commodity levy proposal will also be introduced, with feedback opportunities available until August.
Source: Summerfruitnz