New Zealand’s olive producers were forced to delay harvesting this season as lack of sun and torrential rain resulted in the fruit ripening late. As the harvesting season should have been underway, New Zealand was battered by storms and cyclones in the worst weather to hit the country for 50 years. Olive farmers braced themselves for a disappointing harvest and a drop in yields of up to 90 percent.
Olives NZ EO Gayle Sheridan says the 2017 crop load has been reported as quite varied across much of the country and sparse/non-existent on some groves. “By contrast, the Focus Groves are looking really good – maybe that proactive spraying program and pruning regime work!!!” Find out more in the Focus Grove Project Field Day Report in the coming June edition of Olivegrower & Processor.
