| 43 “We’re picking through nine months of the year, which gives us real reach in terms of local, and the competitive export sector. T T Sue Russell Bright future planned for berry growers Berry Farms NZ grows its berries in substrate – a growing technology that extends the growing season considerably. Berry Farms NZ REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Based in sunny Hawke’s Bay, Berry Farms NZ grows nearly 90% of the annual harvest of blackberries, which are enjoyed by Kiwis up and down the country. This enterprising business also grows around 40% of New Zealand’s raspberries, along with large volumes of strawberries, sourced from global supplier Driscoll’s. The Fresh Berry Company has the New Zealand agency agreement to grow and supply the Driscoll genetics to its growers, and Berry Farms NZ is one of those. Johnny Milmine, Berry Farms NZ’s general manager, says the business has worked its way through the devastation Cyclone Gabrielle brought to the region in February 2023. “Our Hastings farm’s production was completely wiped out, with water coming through the shelterbelt at waist height. We lost everything, so it was quite a moment for us yesterday when we picked our first berries from that farm again, two years to the day from the cyclone’s arrival.” Berry Farms NZ, which is part of RD8 Fresh Produce Group and its sister company, The Fresh Berry Company, has undergone considerable expansion, with more nursery spaces planned to develop in the future, signalling a future-proofing strategy to bring greater volumes of fruit to the domestic and valuable export markets the company supplies. Berry Farms NZ grows its berries in substrate – a growing technology that extends the growing season considerably. “We’re picking through nine months of the year, which gives us real reach in terms of local, and the competitive export sector,” says Johnny. Subtrate also enables growing technicians to modify the nutritional blends provided to help the plants grow, subtly changing the flavour of the fruit accordingly. The plants are grown in mulched coconut husk, imported from Sri Lanka. During the busy picking and processing time, Berry Farms NZ calls on RSE workers from Vanuatu, along with locals and backpackers, meaning when the fruit is ripe and at its best, it is picked seven days a week. Johnny says 2024 was a good year. “At the time we only had the Bay View property, which had also been impacted by the cyclone. “Fortunately, the irrigation system there was not flooded and destroyed like the Hastings farm.” These days, the business operates over two sites, so fruit growing is concentrated at Astill Farm in Hastings, extending over five hectares, and Bay View Farm, north of Napier, totalling nine hectares. Growth is very much at the back of Johnny’s mind, and there’s a definite plan forming to develop more plots to convert into berry growing. As general manager, Johnny oversees all aspects of the business, and he says the responsibility is made easier, given the quality of senior staff, engaged over several years in the company. “As part of a larger company, we have responsibilities to meet growing and financial targets, and set budgets that allow us to achieve our annual goals. We’re in for an exciting time ahead.” There are also considerable compliance standards and processes regulating the company’s activities. “Driscoll’s have their own internal audit processes, and we carry Global GAP accreditation, so our standards of production and handling are very high. “We also welcome supermarkets we supply to, to visit our sites and see how we grow our wonderful fruit to the highest possible standards.” Haygrove Advantage Range – AGamechanger! Horticulture is at the forefront of today’s volatile world, navigating climate, economic, and political changes. From increasingly extreme and inconsistent weather patterns to rising input costs and the expense of labour, the challenges are signi icant and it’s changing the economics of growing. Capital investment in technology is replacing manual labour, and those investments need to be maximised. As well as supplying Growing Systems to over 50 countries, Haygrove are also berry and cherry growers, farming over 500 hectares in four countries. As growers, Haygrove empathise with the complexities of climate, crop sensitivities, labour resourcing, market demands, and the ever-evolving role of technology. Always asking, how to best anticipate these challenges in a rapidly evolving industry? With this insight, Haygrove's engineers work closely with growers to design practical, economical products that are tested on Haygrove farms. With a focus on ease of management and a superior agronomic environment, they have developed the Advantage Range, which o ers a variety of polytunnel mechanised venting solutions that are practical on a ield scale. The Advantage Range’s mechanical venting o ers speed and ease of management, equipping growers with the tools to be agile for frequent and precise venting adjustment. This gives the tools to create a consistently optimal environment depending on the crop stage, diurnal luctuations, and mitigating the e ects of weather spikes. By managing Vapour Pressure De icit (VPD) – the relationship between temperature and humidity – through precision venting and the use of a retractable shade net, fruit quality can be maintained throughout the season without accumulating labour costs. Mechanised venting means vent height is no longer determined by human working height. Vents positioned above the crop are more e ective, providing a direct escape for hot air rising vertically. The increase in the polytunnels’ air volume compared to traditional structures bu er climate luctuations, creating a more consistent growing environment. Water is a valuable resource and using it e iciently is key to sustainable growing. The combination of roller vents itted with Haygrove’s gutters maximises rainwater collection and that be used for irrigation, mitigating the risk of failure due to drought. Haygrove’s Advantage Range has the potential to boost yield and quality, extend cropping seasons, optimise labour e iciencies, and allow growers to adapt to changing weather patterns, to achieve long-term success. TO FIND OUT MORE Please contact Alan Bissett on +64 27 271 1594 and alan.bissett@haygrove.co.nz Website: www.haygrove.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/ company/5143407 FIND YOUR ADVANTAGE! Suppliers of Polytunnels and Substrate Gutters Advantage Range to cultivate your long-term success Designed For Growers, By Growers haygrove.com
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