Business Central September 2021

50 | “With rising costs each year, you really have to be prudent about what you grow to retain profit. There’s always the uncertainty of more volatile weather patterns to contend with as well.” Location the vital element Wairoa: Otoki Farm Otoki Orchard focuses on growing early summer fruiting varieties, which has been key to the orchard’s success. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT F ruit grower Charlie Owen says that key to the success of the orchard he and wife Paddy own 12 kms north of Wairoa is its location. “There’s always been something special about how what is grown produces earlier than the same crops in other orchards in the district. My dad used to grow maize on the property and even though he wouldn’t be the first to sow, he was the first to harvest.” Further investigation yielded the answer: The warm air from the wetlands opposite, blown in by the sea breeze over what is now their orchard, then hits the hills behind the orchard and is recirculated over the trees.” The decision to diversify away from raising stock to growing apples, nectarines, plums, peaches and apricots yielded great results and confirmed the orchard enjoyed the perfect micro-climate. “I remember fruit always matured early in the backyard, so we have simply extended the area we now grow over.” By the early 1980’s Charlie started put- ting plans into place, building irrigation and fencing and with the help of Hawkes Bay horticultural consultant Ali McKay, the bones of today’s orchard were grounded. “We knew how to plant trees but not much else so that support in the early days was critical.” Focusing on growing early summer fruiting varieties has been key to the orchard’s suc- cess, capturing a market where lack of supply keeps prices buoyant. The first fruit came in 1985 and a small shed was built. Over the years a strategic relation - ship was built with NZ Fresh, a marketing com- pany with fruit sold through Turners. The varieties have changed over the dec- ades too, with the early nectarine now gone. Today, fruit suited to the area is the mainstay. “With rising costs each year, you really have to be prudent about what you grow to retain profit. There’s always the uncertainty of more volatile weather patterns to contend with as well.” T T Sue Russell The orchard grows Golden Bell peaches, similar to the Golden Queen which yields very well with an average weight per fruit of upward of 400gm. “We always try to be the first on the market with better variety. Where we are we don’t get frosts but on the negative side we don’t get the chill to set the stone-fruit.” A team of six work full-time at the orchard, undertaking all the pruning and as the only orchard between Bayview and Gisborne, the road-frontage shop is a popular place for passers-by to stop. Asparagus is also grown and is in high de- mand and the bulk of orders are via email. This year, a larger chiller is being built which will future-proof the operation and currently the orchard extends over 30 ha’s. “I will have two operational chillers able to cope with the number of trucks that call in everyday over the flush. For us, over Christ - mas and New Year, where things slow down, that’s when we need the extra storage.” During the harvesting season Charlie takes on additional staff working out in the orchard. “It’s all local people from the Wairoa District which works out well. I have some fabulous staff who have been with me for 15 years. I keep my nose into everything that is happen- ing and am always on a tractor, spraying or mowing.” With two sons, one in Amsterdam and one working in Melbourne, Charlie says they will be the first option for succession. He’s also proud of the rich Māori heritage of Otoki, and the area is known as The Place of the Axing, where waka were once crafted. “The big waka taua, Te Toki a Tapiri which is in the Auckland museum was built in this area.” To celebrate this, Charlie is getting the box- es the orchard’s fruit is packed into labelled with information in Te Reo Māori and English about the special history of the area and that of the orchard. Phone: 021 195 7545 | Napier Branch: 06 843 3429 | Gisborne Branch: 06 867 3924 Proud to supply specialised transport logistics for Otoki Farm www.w t r ans .co. nz