Frankly Speaking

Welcome to our week 26 update

Our Post-Harvest effort is focussed on managing the fruit instore to ensure that we optimise the fruit being loaded out to meet Zespri’s shipping demands and in doing so are making sure that we select the right fruit, to maximise your earnings and minimise fruit loss. We are keeping a close watch on the quality statistics in the market and remain of the view that this system is well overdue for an overhaul. So far so good – our reported quality offshore is good.

Onshore we are satisfied with the quality results so far. There is a little bit of alternaria in the inventory which is to be expected with the incidence of exploding softs in the fruit harvest, but not enough to be alarmed. Also a little challenging is the fruit which was held on the vine waiting to achieve the minimum taste standard and fruit pressure has been compromised; accordingly we are focussing on shifting that fruit. Zespri have been changing pack plans which is necessitating pack transfers, a costly process at this time of the year.

It is early in the storage season and at this stage we are happy with how the fruit is performing.

The latest market report continues the positive for this season’s crop, with the Hayward conventional prices 11.5% above last year and Gold 3 pricing at an astonishing 9.5% above last year.  Hayward Organic pricing is 6.8% above last year and with such a low crop volume this year pricing in this category is critical to the financial outcome for growers.

Collaborative marketing results for the 2016 season have been finalised and the two programmes managed by Seeka last year [a total of 347K trays] achieved returns of 148% and 131% above the Zespri weighted average return.  In a year when fruit was being crop managed by Zespri these programmes delivered a positive result for all growers.

On the orchards

On the orchards winter pruning for some has started.  Interestingly when Seeka reviews its safety statistics, most of our accidents occur after Mainpack. In the Mainpack period there is an intense focus on safety, and our operations are reasonably defined – on the orchards and in the packhouse, picking to supply in a coordinated fashion. After that we have a different operation and risk profile. Our risk is wide spread with pruning happening right across the orchards, and a number of hazards often exacerbated by the weather. At this time of the year, eye injuries [through stray wires], repetition strain and stress injuries are common, along with vehicle incidents. Growers and orchard managers are asked to remain vigilant from a safety perspective.

As a number of you know Seeka run a pollen operation, in which Seeka purchase from growers male flowers which are milled and the pollen is then sold back to growers.  We are currently reviewing our commercial terms and will have them available soon.  If you have any questions about this area of operation please contact your CRM.

Industry update

NZKGI is currently carrying out a survey on the Gold 3 License process.  All growers are encouraged to have their say.  On the NZKGI website you can find a discussion paper along with the survey.  Debbie Oakley is the Seeka Growers NZKGI representative and can be contacted if you have any questions.

The numbers: [to midnight Sunday 2 July]

Seeka After 5 meetings

Join us to review the 2017 season

• Kerikeri on Monday 10 July, Woodlands Conference Venue
• Katikati on Monday 24 July, Main Road
• Tauranga on Tuesday 25 July, Huka Pak
• Te Puke on Wednesday 26 July, Seeka 360
• Coromandel on Wednesday 23 August, venue tba

All meetings will start at 5.30pm. To confirm your attendance please RSVP to Annie.Moir@Seeka.co.nz