Cyclone Pam, the category 5 monster which wreaked havoc and caused utter devastation on Vanuatu island, causing 24 confirmed deaths, has passed through New Zealand as an ex-tropical cyclone, no stronger than a category 3. While the cyclone grazed the coastal areas of Tologa Bay and areas north of the Gisborne produce region, many local growers have not had a dramatic loss of crops.
Harvesting of sweet corn, squash and tomatoes was halted while the rain and wind passed through, however only the sweet corn crop was blown down by the wind, according to a RadioNZ News article. It is still too early to say whether there will be losses and how much, as it is yet to be determined whether the harvesting machines can still do their job in the wet soil, but a spokesperson for Horticulture New Zealand told Fresh Plaza that they haven’t yet heard anything out of the region, and in this case ‘that’s probably good news.’
Harvesting is expected to resume in the areas which received rainfall on Thursday, March 19.
Seasonal worker program affected
Although there was no significant damage to crops or buildings reported in the nearby Bay of Plenty region, kiwifruit harvesting company EastPack faces uncertainty as there were seasonal workers due to travel from Vanuatu to assist with its peak harvesting period. “We had arranged for 260 workers from Vanuatu to work for us in our facilities over harvest. Their ability to assist us is unclear as a result of the devastation of their country,” says John Loughlin, Interim CEO of EastPack.
For more information
Horticulture New Zealand
Phone: +6444723795
E-mail: info@hortnz.co.nz
Website: www.hortnz.co.nz