The Industry Advisory Council met today to consider the matters of minimum dry matter levels for Hayward as I signalled in this week’s Frankly Speaking.
There are two important outcomes.
Firstly Zespri will now use the highest test to determine eligibility to harvest Hayward, rather than the last test. So once you have achieved the threshold there is no risk to you in continuing to test to try and get a higher result. Once you have achieved the threshold – it is achieved. Debbie Oakley raised this as an issue on behalf of growers at the previous meeting and should be complimented on the sensible outcome.
Secondly, the Haywood maturity areas that are between average 14.5% DM and 15.5%DM. The Council agreed to a suggestion by NZKGI to put a safety net in for those growers who do not get above 15.5% but were above 14.5%. The Industry will effectively crop manage this fruit and pay those growers an amount of money to reflect the late change in the standard from 14.5% to 15.5%. All growers who want to take that option will have their fruit surveyed in the orchard to work out the volume of fruit. The orchard will be paid the lowest of the assessed surveyed orchard volume or the industry average yield – whatever is the lower. The amount will be established on the August forecast but is anticipated to be around $2.69 per tray. Growers who take this option will have to drop the fruit on the ground in the orchard and for it to be mulched – as in previous crop management episodes. Fruit under average DM of 14.5% will not be accepted and there will be no safety net.
Finally – Zespri is assessing the market sales rates for Hayward and will come back to the Industry with the volume of Hayward it needs to crop manage in excess of the volume of fruit between 14.5% DM and 15.5% DM.
Happy and safe harvesting
Regards
Michael
Seeka Key
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