38 | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT 45 South Cherries T T Aimee Wilson Coping with the weather challenges 45 South Cherries in Cromwell produces 30% of New Zealand’s export market 4 Chardonnay St, Cromwell | 027 245 6472 | 03 445 1139 Specialising in ... • Electric motor controls installation & repairs • Electronic Innovations • Electrical design & installations • Industrial Process & control There is no doubt Central Otago cherry growers felt short-changed by the weather this season, but at least the transport companies didn’t let anyone down. 45 South Cherries in Cromwell produces 30% of New Zealand’s export market and aims to guarantee delivery of their fruit worldwide within 24–48 hours of leaving the packhouse. Thanks to Booths Logistics, the nationwide carrier ensures the fruit is ready to be flown out either from Christchurch or Auckland airport the same day, directly from the packhouse. The transport company has also upgraded its Central Otago warehousing facility over the past year, which means 45 South Cherries can store all of its unused packaging — important following a challenging season of low returns. Chief Executive Tim Jones said 45 South would normally be exporting between 2000 and 2500 tonne of cherries but this season they were lucky to pack even 1500 tonnes. “So we had a lot of packaging left over. Having the warehousing space is huge for us.” Nationwide, cherry export volumes dropped to 3.2 million kilograms from last year’s record of 5.1 million kilograms, and Cromwell growers were hit the hardest by the weather. Ongoing rain and cool weather followed relentless equinox winds in the early Spring, which caused damage to both trees and fruit. Tim said there was a lot of marking on the fruit, and the constant showers of rain, from flowering through to harvest, caused some of the fruit to split. The rainfall was different for everyone across the Cromwell basin — Ripponvale closer to the town received 40– 50mm, whilst up the Cromwell Road towards Pisa they received double that amount again. Over in Tarras they got as much rainfall as 200mm, leaving no doubt that the cherries were the worst hit of all the summer fruit in the district. But the 45 South cherries that did make it to market were of high quality and Tim emphasised that low volume years often produce cherries of good size. “We had a nice crop of a perfect size but then mother nature took most of it away from us.” There was some consolation from this year’s later Chinese New Year between February 17 and 23, with the later harvest able to supply that market. 45 South Cherries owns and manages over 300ha of orchards and looks after 20 clients’ fruit as well. Key export varieties include Chelan, Santina, Stella, Lapin, Sweetheart and Staccato, and the company also hold the exclusive rights to grow and export the lateripening Sentennial variety — a juicy, ruby-red cherry that is large and firm. Growing the Sentennial variety allows 45 South Cherries to supply markets longer than anyone else in New Zealand. Employing up to 500 staff during the peak of the summer season, 45 South had the extra challenge this season to keep pickers and packers enthused when weather affected the flow of the harvest. “But we got through. If we’d had a full crop, it might have been quite a different story.” Having been in the industry for 30 years, Tim said he can’t recall experiencing any other season as bad as this one. Next year they might consider putting out their cherry nets a bit earlier, rather than having to battle winds. But they also risk being affected by late snowfall which can cause even more problems from the weight on the cherry nets. Additionally, 45 South Cherries is weighing up whether to plant more shelter on the windier sites to help trees cope with the extreme weather. Never one to give up, Tim said 45 South Cherries is excited by new varieties of cherries being released into the New Zealand market in the next few years. “We’re optimistic for the future, and we know that no two fruit seasons are the same or alike.”
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