54 | PRODUCTION Whiritoa Orchards Holistic approach rewarded Key people at Whiritoa: from left Rex Anderson ( property manager ), Helen Scott (orchard manager), and Ray Hiki ( orchard supervisor). Kelly Deeks INDUSTRY LEADERS IN: Frost Protection & Irrigation • Horticultural Remote Monitoring & Control • Automation • All types of Pumping Applications • System Integration Ph: 07 219-0661 www.controltechltd.nz Taking an holistic approach to sustainability has paid sweet returns for kiwifruit grower Whiritoa Orchards in the Bay of Plenty, where improved soil health has helped to more than double production, and a meticulous attention to detail has won the orchard a raft of business, horticulture, and environment awards. Whiritoa Orchards was the 2022 Regional Supreme Winner in the Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards, and also took out the People in Primary Sector, Agri-Business Management, and Kiwifruit Orchard awards. Whiritoa Orchards has been owned by Māori Investments since 2016, when the company bought two neighbouring orchards at Te Teko in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. One property was an established nashi orchard, the other a conventional gold kiwifruit orchard, and Māori Investments got started converting the nashi orchard into organic gold kiwifruit. 25 nashi trees were retained and now form part of Whiritoa Orchards’ whānau fruit and vegetable gardens. After a year conversion period to get the new kiwifruit vines up and going, the organic orchard is now completing its conversion for a three year period before it can become BioGro certified. With orchard manager Helen Scott at the helm, Whiritoa Orchards is striving to improve the land for future generations. “We started thinking along the lines of what is going to help,” she says. “We started clover crops, putting in a seed mix with this nitrogen fixing plant that has also become like a weed mat. Usually an orchard will have a ryegrass all through it, which means a monoculture, so we’ve used a seed mix on half a hectare to change the biology that is happening in the soil.” The soil is regularly tested to determine whether its quality is improving, but Helen says her observations of the results speak for themselves. “There is greater vine health, less disease, and an increase in worms.” Helen and the team are planting natives around the property to further increase its biodiversity. They have planted a variety of natives with the intention of attracting wild bees. “These plants will flower at different times of the year, so they are hosting wild bees for the whole year.” On the organic side, there is no river for riparian planting, so they are thinking outside the square. “We have got a house on the property so we are planting around the house. We’re looking at plants that will survive on that land and in those conditions. In amongst our native grasses I planted a little Renga Renga lily which is supposed to be very hardy, but she doesn’t like it much! Maybe she will once the grasses get big enough to shelter her.” Over the past three years, production has increased at the conventional orchard from 8000 trays of kiwifruit per hectare to 21,000 trays. Māori Investments is now working towards converting the conventional orchard to organic. As a mother herself, Helen says she has plenty of experience of having multiple things on the go at any one time, and also of trying new things. She has been in the kiwifruit industry for 20 years, starting as a picker while her kids were at kōhanga reo. With the support of her employer, she was able to work school hours while growing her own love and knowledge of horticulture. “I encourage the same flexibility amongst our crew. It’s alright if you’re having a sick day because your child is sick. Mothers need flexibility, and that’s the kind of work environment I want to provide.”
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