Observations from Apple Harvest 2024.
The apple harvest in Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne came back strongly from the devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle with most of the worst hit growers recording a solid performance. Yields varied according to region while colour was generally much improved.
A lack of rain from Christmas 2023 onwards made for an easier harvest compared with the past three wet seasons, but it also contributed to smaller fruit size and slightly reduced yields and tonnages. Water restrictions made the dry conditions even more difficult for growers in Central Hawke’s Bay, Nelson, and Motueka.
The tried and true Royal and Ju Gala varieties had a successful season largely because they’re easier to grow and they ripen early. The Gala harvest was effectively done and dusted by the time the dry spell really set in.
Higher humidity during fruit set and cell division in Spring 2023 revealed that some modern apple varieties are more prone to Russet than previously thought. There’s no silver bullet when it comes to combatting Russet because it can be caused by several factors. But evidence shows that having open trees can greatly improve the odds. This emphasises the importance of a strict pruning and tree training regime to increase light penetration and air movement through the trees and allow enough drying time during the critical stages of fruit development.
Early adopters of leaf blowing two weeks out from harvest experienced marked increases in high colour. This is significant given that carton prices for high colour fruit can be 30%+ higher than standard colour fruit. Hear what Pea Hunt has to say about leaf blowing in this short video from the Gisborne harvest. Watch it here.