New Zealand Tree Crops Association

2003q4 (4th Quarter October..December)

• Katikati Advertiser, 7 October 2003:
  PAHOIA Estate olive oil was awarded 99 points out of 100 to win gold at the New Zealand Extra Virgin Olive Oil Awards in Blenheim.
  The Western Bay of Plenty oil won a gold award in the boutique medium class, as well as the best in show boutique on September 27 against competition from the established olive growing areas of Marlborough, Gisborne, Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay.
  Guest judge, California-based international olive oil expert Roberto Zecca, gave the "incredible" olive oil 99 points out of 100 - the highest score he has awarded in his 15-year career as a judge...
  Pahoia Estate is a Conference 2004 attraction... Read more, Pahoia Estate - OLIVE OIL AWARDS

2003q3 (3rd Quarter July..September)

• Waimea nursery have just contracted to graft a seedling of Meyric grown on the property of Diana and Walter Loader.
  One of 60 seedling Meyrics now fourteen years old, the selection, to be named Diana, weighs 14 grams compared to the 7 gram parent. It nuts promiscuously and heavily. It must be more blight resistant than the grafted Meyrics and other top grafted varieties in Wanganui conditions and 1.2 m annual rainfall, because it out-performs 140 other similar aged trees in those conditions for yield and the quantity of top quality nuts. The crackout rate is 48%.
  The Diana Meyric selection will be trialled in the Van der Tol North Island trial and at Cheddar Valley. Grafted trees will be available from Waimea nurseries in two years time.
  
  It is likely that seedlings from the grafted walnut orchards crossed with other top named varieties will yield a new generation of superior trees, and the rare seedling will exceed its parents. Who will have the courage to plant a hundred seedlings for the chance of another exceptional nut? Another treecropper of course.
  Diana Loader - Fri, 12 Sep 2003
  
  
• Hortdays [was www.hortdays.co.nz] kicked off with an impressive variety and quantity of trade displays, at Tauranga's new Baypark Stadium on Thursday 4 September. Despite moody weather there was a moderately busy attendance from early on - it was a pleasant change to easily talk to vendor representatives who were almost impossible to access in the crush associated with the National Agricultural Fieldays.
  
  Organics suppliers abounded; greenhouses, irrigation, data-logging, worm-farming, wood handling and tree tools - they were all there in and around the welcome shelter of big marquees - plus the usual displays of immaculate machinery such as the Trimax range of serious mowers, made here in Tauranga.
  
  Touchwood Books is one display that is always difficult to bypass without becoming engrossed, and the informative display of weed species by Environment BOP Regional Council was presented with a cheery countenance. It was most encouraging to spend some time at the interesting HortResearch stand.
  
  It was difficult to imagine any horticultural-associated service that was missing out on this opportunity - except for, ahem, the New Zealand Tree Crops Association...
  
  
• A modest tribute to Mary Banks, who passed away Friday 1 August 2003.
  Were there any areas of our association Mary didn't serve in?
  National Treasurer, then Membership Secretary, just in recent times.
  And a long stand-in as National Secretary, or any other job that needed doing.
  Anchor-pin; straight-shooter; mine of information and encouragement.
  Always wanting the best outcome for us, ever scrutinising and astute:
  "When Mary thought it necessary, she had a way of jabbing one's 'Re-think' button..."
  Deepest sympathy to Don and family. A few photographs...

2003q2 (2nd Quarter April..June)

• Annual Reports are worthy of careful study by all tree croppers; as a roadmap for where the association is heading, and how the personalities elected to our national management committee plan to go about it.
  • "...I have learned a lot about human nature and the dynamics of working with people that have very different perceptions about what makes for a successful team..." President's Report
  • "...all those branches and individual members responding to the Northern Region appeal for research funds enabling every other fruitgrower in warm areas to prevent the spread of the fruit driller (Guava moth)..." North Island Vice President's Report
  • "...The new Strategic Plan, developed by Management Committee over the last year, emphasises links with kindred organisations as being a way forward..." South Island Vice President's Report
  • "...more research being done by branches...the enthusiast that pushed, encouraged, found out, and got stuck in to a new crop...we need to progress from just knowing how to grow new crops, and know how to add value..." Research co-ordinator's Report
  
  These reports were presented to the Annual General Meeting during the highly enjoyable 2003 Conference in Dunedin recently, hosted by the Coastal Otago branch.

2003q1 (1st Quarter January..March)

• NZ Walnut Industry Group (WIG) Conference [and AGM] dates are Friday 20 June - Sunday 22 June 2003.
  They have a 6 page information pack with all the detail people would need to know. Included in this pack is:
  • Conference overview - 1 page
  • Conference program - 3 pages
  • Accommodation options - 1 page
  • Map showing accommodation locations - 1 page
  • Registration Form - 1 page