There is no single way to run a successful business, but, at ZESPRI, we are working together with our leading growers to develop best practice initiatives for the industry. By tracking and supporting five highly successful orchards in New Zealand, we aim to uncover key management approaches that will help all of our growers run sustainable and successful orchards into the future.
Once best practice is established, findings will be shared amongst all growers so that learnings can be filtered through the grower community.
The Focus Orchard Network (FON) programme is currently in its second year.
Case Study
FON participants Alan and Pat Birley began planting kiwifruit in 1977, and it was clear, right from the start, that sustainability was a focus.
The Birley's aim to consistently and sustainably produce more than 10,000 trays per canopy hectare of good-sized, top quality ZESPRI® GREEN Kiwifruit with high dry matter. The Birley's are into their fourth season of using biological farming practices to achieve these production targets.
"Biological farming is not to be confused with organics; it can be applied to either conventional or organic systems, and takes a holistic view of fruit production by recognising the importance of soil and plant health, to vine productivity and fruit quality," says Alan.
"Biological farming gives us a more sustainable approach to growing fruit without compromising production levels, which will make it easier for us to meet future compliance issues, such as spray residues and carbon footprinting, and may give us a competitive advantage in the nutritional quality of fruit we produce."