
John Emett, Orchard Management and Grower Services, South Auckland and Northland
MATURITY
Maturities in the Far North have been slow to reach export levels compared with recent years. In some cases, they have moved backwards after cold and wet weather.
This is not unusual in the early part of the season.
Export picking is under way however across a number of orchards as the new season gathers momentum.
IN THE FIELD
There is a higher than normal percentage of ridging on fruit coming through the packing shed. The most common school of thought on the cause is cold and wind events during the early development of the fruitlets that irritate the skin. From what I have seen, fruit from the Far North to the Bay of Plenty have been affected.