According to agri experts, the trees and vines that survived the Hawke’s Bay recent floods could still perish. This could happen when the stress of blooming, growing leaves and carrying fruit hits them in the lead-up to summer.
Hawke’s Bay grower and Yummy Fruit general manager Paul Paynter: “The cyclone is still an everyday reality for us. It’s yesterday's news for a lot of people but in terms of our regional economy, it's still a cleanup and salvage exercise. Some of them [trees] are going to live, some are going to die, but I'm not sure where that line is.”
The first growth after winter was a stressful occasion for trees and many could end up dying, he said. Also, soil-borne diseases could “take a year or two to kick in”.
Paynter added: “If 10% of your trees die you'll look at some program of replacing those. If 70% of your trees die it's probably a write-off, and you're better to start again. We're living in a world of uncertainty. We're not sure what trees will be alive, and if they're alive will they bloom. And if they bloom will they set a crop, and will be good enough quality to export.”
Source: stuff.co.nz
