Saying that many Aucklanders growers are frustrated by the weather might be an understatement. Summer’s had a staggered start in Auckland, and scattered showers at the start of December have made growing the fruit a challenge for local farms.
Anthony Rakich, a grower in Kumeū lost as much as 60 per cent in crop, after the humid start to the season. “I’ve seen growers even worse off than me, but from Monday we’ve been down,” said Rakich. “The humid weather from a few weeks ago ripened all the green fruit far too quickly – we picked it all off, and it was just rotting. We’d had a lull of fruit anyway, but with the rain we got after that – the humidity set off the rot.”
The weather hadn’t been ideal for farmers before the early December rains. Since the start of October, wet weather has hampered growers’ chances of cultivating the fruit.
The weather also hadn’t been ideal for farmers before the early December rains. Rakich said since the start of October, wet weather has hampered growers’ chances of cultivating the fruit. The only growers who could escape the impacts of weather were those fortunate enough to have tunnel houses in place, which protect strawberries from the elements.
Source: stuff.co.nz
