New Zealand: Small operators step up to process Nelson s damaged apple crop
Small juicing operations are doing their best to help in the aftermath of the destructive Boxing Day hailstorm in Motueka, that damaged thousands of tonnes of apples. According to figures from New Zealand Apples and Pears, Nelson s crop was down by 36 per cent due to the damage from the hail.
While many apple crops throughout the region are no longer fit for export, there is a surplus of fruit which could still be salvaged, including for juicing. However, late last year the main juicing plant in the region was shut down, with owners Cedenco Foods packing up the operation and moving it to the Hawke s Bay.
However, late last year the main juicing plant in the region was shut down, with owners Cedenco Foods packing up the operation and moving it to the Hawke s Bay. In Richmond, juicing business Mad Melon are ramping up their production to try to tackle some of the demand.
Martin De Ruyter/Stuff
Mad Melon owner Jamin Brown is scaling up his fruit juice business to process more apples in the wake of the Boxing Day hailstorm. Owner Jamin Brown said the business was planning to process 40,000 litres of apples per week, on top of their normal watermelon juicing operation. Brown said the company got a big response from orchardists after offering their services on Facebook.
O’Connor said the full scope of the damage would likely be apparent in the next week or so, given the time it would take growers to do a proper assessment. He said there were several options on the table for the Government to provide support. These included the possibility of direct wage support to help keep staff on, providing professional advice for those badly affected, and potential tax concessions where needed. New Zealand Apples and Pears Board director and Motueka orchardist Evan Heywood said the physical evidence of the damage was beginning to become clearer. Heywood estimated about half of the region s gold kiwifruit had been ruined. He said apples were a trickier prospect, with there being significant variation in damage to crops on the edge of the storm.