Seeka

[whatsup]

cheers for sharing your industry knowledge. May I add some questions ?


1)
I understand the point with smaller Kiwifruit when its hot and dry.

Can you comment on fruit quality under these conditions? With other crops this could mean a bit smaller, but as well better taste (sweeter). Would this be the case with Kiwifruit as well?

2) You said a percentage of orchards are on irrigation (and I assume they have the smaller fruit problem to a lesser degree - though they still will feel the heat and the lower humidity).

Do you know - or can you hazard an estimate - what this percentage on irrigation might be for Seekas NZ clients?

I investigated some time ago for the Seeka (operated) orchards in Australia, and for them it was 100 % on irrigation.

As a owner of a orchard since 1980, I can comment about BoP growing condition.

Dry weather usually only kicks in for 6 weeks at the most in the BoP and usually from mid to late Jan.
The critical growth period for K F is from flowering until early March so any dry only has a marginal effect on their growth, its the S W winds that has a drying effect , bearing in mind that the shelter effect and the canopy cover that shades the crop.

We once did a hand auger test to see how moist the ground was down 6-7 mts and found the ground at the depth had retained a fair level of moisture bearing in mind that the roots go down more than 10 mts in the volcanic BoP soils, that is one reason that FK F grows so well in that area.
They can have smaller fruit years but that can be the results of other factors, ie fruit over loading.

[iceman]

Stakeholder update today chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/http://nzx-prod-s7fsd7f98s.s3-website-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/attachments/SEK/420267/405482.pdf

As a terrible 2023 appears in the rear view mirror for the industry, it has a much better outlook for 2024 with El Nino setting n, with hopefully very different and more industry favourable conditions.
Dipped my toes in again after no holding for a couple of years,.

[IAK]

Bumper crop and better prices forecast for kiwifruit growers https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/country/5...ifruit-growers

[bull....]

Bumper crop and better prices forecast for kiwifruit growers https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/country/5...ifruit-growers

might be waiting a while for a div , debt levels need to be reduced first

[bull....]

China slowdown: Zespri gears up for tough task selling big jump in export volume to weaker wallets

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/...KSXKEGKDB2VQM/

[Toddy]

It's a frustrating industry to be involved in at times. Every time Zespri wants to move forward and make the necessary structure changes to survive in this modern world it has to go to a grower vote under the Kiwifruit Regulations.
A 75 percent yes vote is required.
Due to the aging of the growers the vote is normally unsuccessful. 30 percent always say No because they can.

Growers are not marketers but under the Regulations are required to vote on Marketing and offshore issues well and truly outside of their expertise.

[whatsup]

It's a frustrating industry to be involved in at times. Every time Zespri wants to move forward and make the necessary structure changes to survive in this modern world it has to go to a grower vote under the Kiwifruit Regulations.
A 75 percent yes vote is required.
Due to the aging of the growers the vote is normally unsuccessful. 30 percent always say No because they can.

Growers are not marketers but under the Regulations are required to vote on Marketing and offshore issues well and truly outside of their expertise.

Dont forget that the sweet Kfruit goes to Asia incl China and the green goes to Europe so not all eggs in one basket, a very good split as the Asians have sweet teeth while the Europeans prefer the flavour of the green fruit.

[Getty]

It's a frustrating industry to be involved in at times. Every time Zespri wants to move forward and make the necessary structure changes to survive in this modern world it has to go to a grower vote under the Kiwifruit Regulations.
A 75 percent yes vote is required.
Due to the aging of the growers the vote is normally unsuccessful. 30 percent always say No because they can.

Growers are not marketers but under the Regulations are required to vote on Marketing and offshore issues well and truly outside of their expertise.

Similar to the single desk regime of the NZ Apple and Pear board.
There were arguments for and against, but once the free marketeers got their way, there was a lot of carnage

10 acre blocks planted in apples sold for little more than the value of the house on site, then production was dented as the folk who seized the opportunity to buy some land with a flash house and sheds for their vintage cars ot hot rods, were not interested in, or did not have the expertise to carry on orcharding.

[Toddy]

Having a single desk makes sense in a small country like NZ. But having a single desk and making the most of the advantages it offers are two different things.

Zespri could make the growers alot of money and spread their risk. A good example is that shareholders money is invested with Govt Plant and Food in partnership to grow better varieties.
However, for Zespri to be able to earn revenue off these varieties offshore they need a growers vote ( including non shareholders).

It gets voted down, no money is made and growers then rely on the weather to be kind in Nz.

This is where the pressure will eventually come from that puts the single desk at risk. Zespri is all set up and has the licensing rights except for Green.

[thedrunkfish]

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/...-in-the-pocket

Man this industry cant catch a break. Hopefully this situation will improve before mid-March.