New Zealand 03/08/2023

Warm winter poses challenges for New Zealand kiwifruit producers

 

New Zealand is experiencing higher than usual temperatures, marking another warm winter. According to local media, this situation poses a challenge for the kiwifruit growers in the main producing region, the Bay of Plenty, who are facing a difficult season once again.

Winter in New Zealand lasts from June to August. The records from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research indicate that New Zealand's temperatures in June were on average 1.4 degrees Celsius higher than normal, making it one of the warmest winters in the last 110 years.

Kiwifruits in New Zealand bloom during the spring, from September to November, and go through a fruiting season in summer, from December to February the following year.

Last year, the kiwi flowering in the Bay of Plenty was affected by high temperatures. Unfortunately, this year's situation hasn't improved much, as a warm winter cannot provide enough chilling hours to the kiwi plants.

The predicted delay in kiwi flowering this year will result in a lower overall yield. Growers have intentionally retained more winter buds to produce more flowers. However, this may negatively affect the fruit's quality.

source: nzherald.co.nz, simfruit.cl