Newspaper Article 1984 – Stonefruit ‘bust’ feared by Keith

Stonefruit ‘bust’ feared by Keith

A glut of export stonefruit is feared by president of the Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers’ Association, Keith Spackman.

The demand for trees to plant this winter was incredible.

“I just can’t believe it,” he said.

Fruit trees already planted and being planted was in “real danger” of creating an oversupply.

People must be aware there could be problems selling the fruit in the future.

“l wonder if some people have really thought it all out,” he said,

There was no need for pessimism but people with large investments could be hit hard if prices for nectarines and peaches “came unstuck.”

Mr Spackman said nectarines gave better production sooner after planting than other tree fruit crops and this was an attraction for people to plant them.

But the stonefruit and industry’s history of boom and bust cycles had a habit of repeating itself.

”We’ve seen it all before.” said Mr Spackman, who is a pip and stonefruit grower.

Growers in Hawke’s Bay would be among the last to be hit by the effects of a glut.

“We have an advantage in this district in that we can grow very good stonefruit.

“Some districts are not as suitable as Hawke’s Bay. They will be the first to go.

“In this district people who do a good job of growing, and marketing the fruit will be the last to be affected,” he said.

Bev and Brian pipped the best

Apples a cinch after concrete

Apples are better than concrete, say Brian and Bev Remnant – and they should know.

The Remnants have won the Retemeyer Shield for the best-packed pipfruit in Hawke’s Bay.

Brian is a former builder and concrete contractor.

For the last seven years Brian and Bev have grown and packed apples on their 5.6 hectare orchard in Grassmere Ave, St Georges Rd north.

This year Bev “freelanced” in the shed, moving around the various work positions inspecting all sorting and packing as the quality controller.

Mr Remnant, meanwhile, sorted many of the apples and pears which went into about 23,000 export cartons.

The president of the Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers’ Association Mr Keith Spackman, when presenting the shield, said, “You have packed fruit for other people as well and done a mighty fine job.”

Brian replied that he owed thanks to a loyal and capable staff.