HORTICULTURE - MSC NewsWire

New Zealand is beating Australia regarding Pacific work force

Both New Zealand and Australia want to attract tourist fruit pickers [‘backpackers’] and seasonal workers from around the Pacific. However, latterly the numbers are becoming somewhat skewered. For every 1,000 backpackers picking fruit and vegetables in New Zealand, there are about 3,000 seasonal workers from the Pacific.

Source/ReadMore A FreshPlaza release

Strong demand for the KORU® apple in Asian markets

New Zealand's KORU® apple has met strong demand in early tastings in South East Asian and Japanese markets, Fern Ridge Fresh export sales, Naomi Mannering says.

Source/ReadMore A FreshPlaza release

Avocado warfare in New Zealand: Electric fences and armed patrols

The global demand for avocados is driving a crime wave in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty, where orchards line the state highway heavy with fruit, and are largely unprotected. Avocados will be sold on the black market for a dollar apiece and thieves can easily pick thousands of dollars’ worth of fruit in one night. As demand has soared, gangs with links to organised crime in the

Source/ReadMore A FreshPlaza release

New Zealand: Alternative fruit sticker wins top accolade

A water-soluble, environmentally friendly fruit sticker that will reduce waste and encourage consumers to wash their fruit has made its creators award winners. For the past eight months, Woodford House students; Sarah Wixon, Maggie Peacock, Zoe Rookes and Rylie Bensemann have been hard at work in the science lab perfecting their product: Bayuble.

Source A FreshPlaza release

‘New orchard is a vote of faith in sector’

A new 12 hectares cherry orchard, being set up by the company 45 South out of Cromwell, is seen by some as a vote of confidence in the future of Central Otago’s cherry industry. 45 South owns or manages at least 150 hectares of cherry orchards in the Cromwell area, producing 30-40% of New Zealand’s export cherries.

Source/ReadMore A FreshPlaza release

New Zealand's avocado industry is thinking big after a breakthrough in exports to China.

Several years of trial shipments and rigorous testing procedures led to the first commercial shipments in early October and growers like Peter Marshall from the fertile Bay of Plenty region. He says that China "represents a massive opportunity for avocado growers and exporters in New Zealand."

Source/ReadMore A CGTN release

New Zealand blackcurrants support an active lifestyle

New research is adding to the knowledge that New Zealand blackcurrants are a ‘super fruit’ for those with an active lifestyle.

Source A Plant & Food Research release

Apple and stonefruit industry members successfully broker meeting aid reaccreditation process

25 Oct: 1105 |The nursery and fruit-growing companies at the heart of the legal action against MPI over seized plants and plant material have been working hard to facilitate the rebuilding of the relationship between MPI and the USA-based Clean Plant Centre North West (CPCNW).

Source A Catalyst Communications release

NZ cherries head to Europe for Christmas

Last year the New Zealand cherry crop was early, but this year it is right on track to start 15th or 16th of December, which is ideal for supplying the Christmas market then continuing into Chinese New Year.

Source/ReadMore A FreshPlaza release

New Zealand exporters invited to find out more about opportunities in the Gulf region

05 Oct: 12:32 | Kiwi horticultural exporters are invited to attend New Zealand Trade & Enterprise’s Gulf Opportunities Showcase being held in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch in October.

Source/ReadMore A FreshPlaza release

Food safety conference delivers key learnings to the fresh produce industry

The theme of this year’s Fresh Produce Safety Conference, hosted by the Fresh Produce Safety Centre Australia & New Zealand in Sydney last week was ‘Food Safety: It’s Your Responsibility’.

Source/ReadMore A FreshPlaza release

How a New Zealand family made tomato growing their passion

Growing fruit and vegetables commercially is not all about serious business and finances. A small New Zealand produce farm, called The Curious Croppers, mainly produce tomatoes on a small scale, but couple Angela and Anthony Tringham are on a ride that has given them plenty of fun and stories along the way report Fresh Plaza.