New Zealand's Hawke's Bay growers are experiencing a favorable apple season, according to Brydon Nisbet, president of the Hawke's Bay Fruit Growers Federation. The region has seen one of the best springs in years, accompanied by beneficial rainfall around Christmas. "All the crops are looking great, the color is fantastic, size is good and that brings optimism for the growers - that's the part that's right," he states.
The primary concern for growers lies beyond cultivation. Nisbet highlights the uncertainty around returns for their apples. In addition to recovery expenses, growers are contending with elevated wages, compliance, and on-orchard costs. "So, the export prices need to be good. We have the dollar in our favor but we need to sell our crops for a really good price when the margins are in our favor, so we can not only pay for what we have done this season but also make a decent profit - and that is the hard part," he notes.
Source: Rural News