The mainly fine week ensured supply to the sheds with fruit at optimal maturity. Fruit firmness remains closely watched and is generally ok with only a few soft fruit in a few lines. We are well and truly in the home straight and will have our fruit substantially harvested by the end of the week, with only those orchards struggling to achieve the Zespri minimum taste threshold still to go. Accordingly we will keep Huka Pak open to receive their fruit when harvested.
Dry matter levels for some Hayward conventional and organic maturity areas continue to be of concern. There remain 97K trays of Hayward conventional and 181K trays of Hayward organics which have not met the minimum taste standard [MTS]. The organic crop below the MTS is spread across the catchment represents a significant proportion of the crop [20%]. It’s a stressful time for those growers.
Zespri has responded to this issue by recommending to the IAC that it allows fruit into inventory which is above the 2016 MTS but below the 2017 MTS. If the recommendation is approved; the fruit will be labelled with the “Family Kiwi” fruit label, put into the “Family Kiwi” box and the grower will be paid a class 1 fruit and service payment with exception of taste which will not be paid, a substantially lesser return. Although recommended, it is not yet certain whether this fruit will be paid loyalty.
While growers should be rewarded for better tasting fruit going to premium markets, and fruit of various dry matter should be segregated to the appropriate markets, the mechanisms used to financially differentiate a growers return must be legal. This fruit seemingly last year was sold for good return, noting that this current year is a low volume year. Also the whole system relies on a sampling system which has delivered seemingly variable results depending upon the day and the sampler. Given the amount of grower funds redistributed through this mechanism and the impact on a growers income and capital values, Seeka has asked KNZ to confirm that the mechanism and the changes are compliant with the Regulations. We need to make sure that the changes which can significantly lower a growers income are indeed lawful.
To the numbers: [to midnight Sunday 4 June]
SunGold [CN&OB]
| Industry Packed Trays | 52,892,993 | Seeka Packed | 8,648,114 |
| Seeka Loaded Trays | 5,098,060 | In Store Trays | 3,550,053 |
| On Order Trays | 614,819 | Average size to date | 26.22 |
Industry submit continues
Hayward Conventional
| Industry Packed Trays | 48,972,253 | Seeka Packed | 12,606,474 |
| Seeka Loaded Trays | 6,983,936 | In Store Trays | 5,622,538 |
| On Order Trays | 850,114 | Average size to date | 28.89 |
Fruit size continues to be large, industry average size 29.19
Hayward Organic
| Industry Packed Trays | 1,556,464 | Seeka Packed | 460,506 |
| Seeka Loaded Trays | 233,846 | In Store Trays | 226,660 |
| On Order Trays | 91,492 | Average size to date | 33.40 |
Industry average TZG for fruit harvested in week 22 – 0.52
Transpack Orchard
Seeka is tendering the Transpack orchard, adjacent to the Transpack Packhouse, and in the Rangiuru Industrial Zone for sale. The tender is being handled by Marcus Wilkins of Mckenzie Elvin with a closing date on or before 4pm 21 June. Information packs can be obtained from Lucia Burt at Seeka360 or by emailing Lucia.Burt@seeka.co.nz. Within our own team, Rob Towgood is handling the sale, and any questions in the first instance should be directed to Rob.
Safe harvesting
Regards
Michael
Seeka Key
Contacts