Yesterday we awoke to a frost. ( see 1st photo - it shows frost on top of the leaves on the top of the canopy) Very, very unusual for us early in the winter ( in fact only about the 2nd time in 28 years ).That was scary cause a heavy frost will knock the leaves off then if there is another it will damage (cook) the fruit. Fortunately for us this morning there was less frost than yesterday and we picked over the 2 days and got all our kiwifruit crop off safely.
We had Punjabi pickers.We used 4 tractors with experienced drivers ( other orchardists ); each tractor tows a bin trailer with 3 bins on it.With all the recent rain the ground was very soft but we managed. We picked about the same number of bins as last year , so are pleased with that result. It is a huge, huge relief to have it safely picked. Some growers still waiting will not be so lucky and they will lose their crop. Thanks to all of you who sent Good Wishes, hoping we would get safely picked...I'm sure it helped!
4 comments:
So will I see your kiwi in my market soon? I know we get fruit from New Zealand. What will the brand sticker look like?
Phew! I'll bet that's a relief when so much hinges on the weather. We'll think of you when we're eating our kiwi fruits (my little boy's favourite).
Glad to hear all your harvest is in safe - i is such a lottery in a business like yours that relies so completely on the weather - now you an heave a sigh of relief and settle to some stitching :o)
That is such good news! Will think of you when I'm adding kiwi to my fruit salads!
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