Bay of Plenty kiwifruit growers are possibly facing another difficult growing season. The recurrence of a warm winter poses yet another obstacle for growers whose fruit contributes to New Zealand's largest horticultural export crop.
NIWA records showed June temperatures were on average 1.4 degrees higher than normal, which so far made it one of the warmest winters in 110 years. Bay of Plenty-based Fruition Horticulture consultant Sandy Scarrow said the winter was one of the warmest she could remember, which meant the vines were not getting the required winter chilling.
Source: rnz.co.nz
