Obituary: Graham Harris, in December 2006. Author and tutor of the substantial course at Open Polytech "Introduction to Tree Crops". See TreeCropper 51
2006 4th Quarter
Alfred Harris is keen to run a stall at the Hamilton or Tamahere Farmers Market where tree crops and related produce would be sold. Items such as free range eggs and home made cheese may also be acceptable. He has linked up with Sylvia King who is currently running a stall with her partner at the Tamahere Market.
Alfred intends to test the market with a stall on Christmas Eve.
If you want to find out more about this proposal, or have produce to sell, Alfred would like to hear from you:
Treecroppers - benefit by supporting your local Farmers Markets; organise your stall to sell your produce. It sounds like a good way of distributing produce that may be going to waste at your place with the added bonus of making a few dollars.
by Sheryn Clothier
TreeCropper editor
I recently came across yet another commercial orchard pulling out their fruit trees - saying it just wasn't worth it.
Not the first uprooted trees I have heard about lately, it made me pause to wonder.
Is horticulture/treecropping really not financially viable?
New crops/tree crops are a long-term gamble - just what are the odds?
I emailed Hon. Jim Anderton (Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Biosecurity among others), and asked if he would like to comment in this column about the future of NZ horticulture. Other than a short acknowledgement, his lack of reply is ominous.
Recently I also read comments from a Canadian-based major apple importer - decrying the demise of the wonderful NZ apple. Apparently others, and influential others, also find that good-looking but mushy and tasteless commercial apple a disappointment.
I do not pretend to be an expert, nor a soothsayer - but I know I am prepared to pay for good healthy food (to the extent that if I cannot buy it, I will join NZTCA, buy a patch a land and grow it myself).
And I think more people are becoming that way inclined. Perhaps not to the same extreme, but prepared to pay a premium for taste and quality, prepared to go to extra lengths to get food with high food value, minimal sprays, residues, waxes, additives and processing.
As our labeling laws make the consumer more informed, perhaps the days of large-scale operations being economic are over.
Maybe it will be diverse, local, fresh, high quality, high taste produce that is in demand.
I'll put my money on that.
TreeCropper December 2006
Obituary - Owen A G Long
7 September 1920 - 11 October 2006
by Ian Gordon
I first met Owen when we worked in administration at DSIR (Department of Scientific and Industrial Research - now defunct), Mt Albert. As a hobby, he was researching pecan nuts and I offered him the use of the land on our Titirangi property.
He had a great love for rugby, and coached and selected in Auckland and sat on various committees.
Before DSIR, Owen had managed a Bond and Bond store and noticed how bored some men became when they retired.
On that note I introduced him to the NZ Tree Crops Auckland Branch and he quickly rose to the top positions; National President (1986 - 1988), Patron (1996 - 2000), Dr Don McKenzie Award winner (1990) and honorary life member. For a time he was also editor for the NZTCA contributions to the Growing Today magazine.
He travelled several times to America to bring in pecan varieties, and to Australia where the heat suited the crop.
Many people on the 150,000 lifestyle blocks in New Zealand with various crops would know of Owen.
On our consultancy trips, Owen and I would have traversed 30,000 km together. He was a natural leader, with great intellect, confidence, humility and wit.
Owen had three daughters and treated me like a son. He will be sadly missed by many.
2006 3rd Quarter
Olive alert - 2006 September 21
An investigative team is in the Wairarapa looking at a olive groves for symptoms of a fungal disease called phoma incompta.
It is a little known disease in the eastern mediterranean, Greece,Turkey, Italy and Crete. There is very little literature about it.
It was first observed by a pruning contractor who suggested the owner get in touch with Biosecurity NZ. Symptoms are cankers growing on the stems and branches, some die back on the twigs but the leaves don't fall off and of course no fruit. It looks a lot like verticilium wilt.
It appears to be species specific and the variety affected in this investigation is Barnea.
It is spread by rain splash and pruning cuts so the advice to dip the pruner in bleach solution between trees is relevant.
Biosecurity NZ web site: http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/
Brian Sprigings died suddenly, 8 Sept 2006. Registrar for Bay of Plenty Conference 2004, his quiet efficiency and impish humour will be greatly missed. Our sympathies are extended to his wife Elizabeth and family.
Arden Andersen to lecture in New Zealand
More Information and online registration from www.bioagnz.com
See also Bay of Plenty Branch field day
2006 First Quarters
Stakeholder Update - High Value Crops: Issue 1 May 2006
Government funding for access to genetic material
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (BNZ) has obtained funding to develop diagnostic
services to access genetic material of high-value crops (such as apples,
grapes, kiwifruit and potatoes) from overseas.
The funding will initially be used to develop and validate the manuals
specifying the tests required to ensure imported material is free from
damaging pests and diseases. The first testing manuals developed will be for
Actinidia and Vaccinium seed and nursery stock.
Prioritisation for the development of future manuals will be in consultation
with stakeholders representing importers of plant and forestry species, and
existing Level 3 post-entry quarantine (PEQ) service providers. The
priorisation process is currently being finalised.
In future, the funding will also be used to develop and provide a
cost-recovered testing service for plants in quarantine. Currently, there
are no plans to use the funding to develop quarantine facility space, other
than that required to carry out transmission tests.
For additional information on the programme visit:
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/imports/plants/standards/high-value-crops [link lopped]
Tree Crops 2006 Conference - Archive and Reviews - National AGM Reports 2006
Report on the Fig Workshop Monday April 10, 2006
by Dianne Edyvane, newsletter editor, Wellington - Horowhenua Branch April/May newsletter.
This was a real winner! 62 people registered for the day, coming to Upper Hutt from all over the country for this interesting and worthwhile adjunct to the National Conference.
Over the past twelve months Eric Cairns has put a tremendous amount of effort into organising the event and writing the excellent Fig Grower Manual. He and his wife Annette Cairns made the day a huge success, along with the excellent help provided by committee members Annette Furkett, Stewart Dixon and Arthur and Irene Hall.
Our thanks to them all for their hard work.
The formal part of the day was held at a church hall, then attendees moved on to the Cairns property to see various fig cultivars on the trees. The new megaphone was an asset there.
Annette’s afternoon tea featuring many recipes made with figs was a real hit. Fresh and preserved figs were also available for tasting and comparisons between types. The figs in the tray are third grade rejects donated by one member for sampling.
There will be a more comprehensive report on the day in the Tree Cropper magazine.
If you would like to buy a copy of the excellent Fig Grower Manual the price is $26.00, which includes packaging and postage. Contact Eric Cairns for details.
Eric Cairns
National R&D coordinator for FIGS, NZTCA
