An early feijoa harvest is occurring in Gisborne and Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, with reports indicating a start about a month ahead of schedule. Brent Fuller, a grower near Napier, noted, "We're probably three-quarters of the way through our harvest now so we're almost at the tail end. It's been pretty good, pretty short and sharp." Typically, the season spans six to seven weeks, but this year it is expected to conclude in four to five weeks. Fuller mentioned the difficulty in pinpointing the cause of this early start.
In Gisborne, picking has commenced two to three weeks earlier than usual. Growers observed that fruit size is favorable on trees with a balanced crop load, while those with heavier loads are experiencing sizing challenges, potentially due to previous wet conditions. Roger Matthews, president of the New Zealand Feijoa Growers Association, remarked that regional variations in harvest timing are not uncommon. At his Morrinsville orchard, picking has not yet begun, with drier conditions present.
Matthews stated, "The price has come back from the really high peak prices of the early season which means that the grower will be getting a reasonable return I think." He warned that further price reductions could lead to unsustainable grower returns. An early start might also signify an early end to the season.
Source: RNZ