Our thoughts are with growers and communities affected by yesterday’s cyclone. While it remains relatively early in the assessment process, initial feedback from most growing areas suggests the impact on kiwifruit has been limited.
Reports to date indicate that the main issues have been damage to shelter belts, trees falling over, power outages, and some building damage, with only the odd block of kiwifruit affected. In most cases, growers are reporting that fruit not yet harvested has held on well.
The cyclone passed through at a critical time for the kiwifruit industry, with harvest underway. At this time, around 40% of Gold and 10% of Green kiwifruit had been picked, meaning a significant volume of fruit remains on the vines. Based on the information currently coming through, there is not enough negative feedback to suggest a material impact on the overall forecast crop.
That said, there will likely be a small number of growers who have experienced more significant impacts. The industry is continuing to investigate conditions on the ground to identify those affected and to ensure appropriate support is provided where necessary. Assessments are ongoing, and impacts can vary significantly between orchards. Our focus remains on supporting growers.
