New Zealand apple growers are rolling out a no-detectable-residues project called Apple Futures.
Growers’ association Pipfruit NZ and the regional economic development agencies, Hawke’s Bay Incorporated, Nelson EDA and Otago Forward, have entered into a partnership to introduce the new top-fruit production practices to NZ orchards.
The industry has been working with HortResearch Ltd for the past two years to develop the programme, which was trialled in Hawkes Bay in 2006.
“This programme development is in direct response to trends signalled by international consumers and aims to make New Zealand apples and pears the preferred choice of buyers worldwide,” Peter Beaven, ceo of Pipfruit NZ, said. “All of our competitors are still practising calendar spraying programmes involving widespread use of harmful broad spectrum insecticides. Consumers are demanding environmentally sustainable products and this will enable us to offer them the best national production system in the world for any crop.”
The programme is a natural next step on from integrated fruit production developed by the NZ industry in the 1990s. Pipfruit NZ predicts that 90 per cent or more of New Zealand’s top fruit will be integrated into its Apple Futures systems within three years. The balance is based on organic production systems.
The project will be overseen by a joint board from the three regions, Pipfruit NZ and the NZ trade and enterprise ministry.
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