Business South November 2021

38 | HORTICULTURE Hoddys Fruit Co ‘Farmers of light’ hitting their stride Karen Phelps W e’re not apple growers; we’re farm- ers of light,” says Andrew Kinin- month, general manager at Hoddys Fruit Co (HFC) on the Waimea Plains near Nelson. He explains that light influences the flavour, size and colour of the fruit. It’s why HFC is moving to a two dimensional (2D) growing system, which has seen it transition from 5 metres between rows to 2.5 metres and 3 metres between trees to 1.4 metres. So far around 40% of the 55ha of orchard is planted in the 2D system and whenever new blocks are planted or older blocks replaced they are planted in the system where practi- cal. The 2D system basically involves training branches to grow along eight horizontal wires. It brings a number of benefits: fruit has more space (no rubbing against branches, which can cause defects), access to light produces better quality apples and picking is easier opening up the demographic of people who can work in an industry that typically experiences labour shortage at key times of the year. The system allows for new automation to be implemented such as mechanical pruning, use of harvest platforms and is robot ready. Additionally Andrew says less spray is need- ed and water can be utilised more efficiently, particularly as HFC has installed drip irrigation rather than micro sprinklers. He says that it was previously considered this wouldn’t be possible on the free draining soils but after a trip to the States he saw it being used on apple trees grown in sand and has since implemented it at HFC. It’s also meant staff can work more easily in amongst the trees without getting wet feet and water can be applied to the trees during the day when most needed. Irrigation software takes information from sensors measuring soil moisture at four different sites allowing accurate applications of water The 2D growing system has also made training labour easier: “I can teach someone to prune in 15 minutes. In a traditional grow- ing system this could take years,” explains Andrew. HFC employs a team of 20 passionate permanent staff consisting of industry-expe- rienced maturity and youthful enthusiasm, which helps balance the dynamics in an ever-changing industry, says Andrew. Many are long-term staff and have been with the business for 15-30 years. “Grow the people and processes and the fruit will sort itself,” he says. Andrew says RSE workers from the islands are an essential part of the industry but there is also a need to attract more kiwis to the industry and retain them. That’s why HFC is aiming to make the work more appealing, for example by providing a picking platform, which means the size of the bag can be re- to page 40 The 2D system basically involves training branches to grow along eight horizontal wires.