The sweetcorn season in Gisborne has commenced earlier than anticipated, with harvests beginning two weeks ahead of the usual schedule, attributed to ideal growing conditions. Following the challenges posed by Cyclone Gabrielle over the past two years, the region's sweetcorn is now ready for market distribution. Gordon McPhail, Leaderbrand's general farm manager, reports an early and abundant harvest, with high-quality produce already available.
Gisborne has experienced favorable weather conditions, facilitating the ripening of sweetcorn and enabling the collection of 850,000 cobs in the forthcoming fortnight. The positive weather has contributed to the enthusiasm of the harvesting teams. Michael Hicklin, another farm manager at Leaderbrand, reflects on the previous two years of adverse weather impacting crop yields but notes the optimal conditions since the commencement of this season's planting in August. The consistent weather has supported excellent pollination, resulting in satisfactory yields and produce quality.
The stability in this year's growing conditions contrasts with the variable weather of past years, which often led to inconsistent supplies. This year's predictability is welcomed, marking a positive shift from recent experiences. The focus on domestic consumption of sweetcorn is emphasized, with a call to support New Zealand-grown produce, highlighting the importance of the local agricultural sector beyond export-oriented crops.
Source: Farmers Weekly