I'm so pleased to be able to report that our Kiwifruit fruit crop got picked Wednesday and Thursday. We could find no hail damage to the fruit just some holes , like trapdoors in leaves.(photo 1 ) ( that was so close to being a disaster ).We got about half way on Wednesday before a 5 minute shower came in and wet everything and stopped us; but got finished by early afternoon on Thursday. The ground around the loading area got very soft and the forklift that had little traction got stuck a few times. R just towed it out with one of our tractors.( photo 4 ) Already we have plans in place to extend the metal loading area for next time.
( photo 2 ) shows our young smiling friend picking fruit ( he was the person who gave us those lovely apples - photo 2 or 3 post ago ) (he was one of 22 pickers. )
(Photo 3 ) shows 2 of the tractor drivers taking leaves from the bins and levelling them out.
( photo 5 ) shows R stapling bin cards ( documentation ) to full bins of fruit.
( photo 6 ) shows one of the truck loads leaving; taking the fruit to the coolstore ) - that size truck is only allowed to carry 32 full bins of fruit.
We got 8 bins less than last year but that may pack out to just as many export trays - it depends on the reject rate. The fruit is not being packed straight away it is being kept in Controlled Atmosphere storage till load out - as it usually keeps very well.
Today we are 2 very relieved orchardists - crop # 27 successfully into the coolstore! ( all photos enlarge with clicking )
9 comments:
Good news!
:-)
Brilliant - now you can relax and enjoy your weekend xx
What a relief for you! We've been wondering if your kiwi are exported to the U.S. and Europe.
Yes, Diana they probably are. I think NZ Kiwifruit get exported to 53 different countries. We no longer get told which pallets of fruit go where; that wouild be too much extra work for Zespri - but because it is all tracable, it could be found out if necessary. Our personal fruit has high dry matter so quite a few sizes of it may go to Japan - who pay the highest prices for it.With Zespri now exporting more than a million trays of fruit in 6 sizes and many pack types it ends up going everywhere almost...so eat up! I do love to hear reports back on any kiwifruit you buy ( how much you pay for it and what you thought of it ). Cheers, Ali.
I am so glad that you were able to pick the kiwis.
Hi Ali
That was great to hear, we heard about the hail while we were in sunny brisbane, now time to relax a bit must be on the cards, give us a call and come to dinner sometime.
That is a relief for you Ali. I look at those fruit, & see the size of them, & realise we get the small ones here. I remember the apples we picked many years ago- all the best were exported.
Love Kiwis -- glad you had a good crop!
Congratulations (though a bit late) Does this mean you get to rest for a few months or is there a lot of work on the orchard before next spring?
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