Aongatete Coolstores Limited

New Varieties Resources

Aongatete Coolstores is highly interested in supporting all its Growers in the conversion or development of ZESPRI new variety cultivars on their orchards.

This page will be regularly updated with details of the resources that we will make available to help ensure success with new varieties.

1 September 2010 - New Variety Development should now be on stringing

As grafting of new varieties is now nearly complete, ZESPRI recommends turning attention to practices that will help to ensure the establishment of new growth - including stringing as well as frost and pest control.

Growers should focus on protecting young, tender shoots from slugs, snails, birds, and frost, and all of these factors can slow growth and prevent successful development of the new canopy.

30 July 2010 - ZESPRI advises optimum grafting period almost over.

Today, ZESPRI has advised that the optimal grafting period for kiwifruit in the Bay of Plenty is mid-July to the 10 August, with the risk of graft failure increasing after this date. As we are now at the end of July, the optimal grafting period is now coming to a close.

If we can help in any way with your New Variety conversion, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our Grower Services Team.

14 July 2010 - Successful New Variety Bids Announced

From the start of this week, ZESPRI will be informing all Growers successful in their bids for New Varieties.

ZESPRI does however caution Growers not to start preparing stumps for grafting until the number of hectares of New Varieties that they are eligible to plant has been offically confirmed

The New Variety FAQ sheet on the Canopy Website has also recently been updated

For more information, check out the information sheets on the ZESPRI Canopy - www.zespricanopy.com, or contact your Client Services Representative.

23 June 2010 - New Varieties Frequently Asked Questions available from ZESPRI

ZESPRI has uploaded a FAQ sheet to the Canopy Website covering a wide range of New Variety topics

Check it out by logging in to the ZESPRI Canopy - www.zespricanopy.com.

16 June 2010 - New Variety Conversion Budget Available

With a decision on which new varieties will become commercially available due to be published today, you will all be thinking very seriously about whether this opportunity is right for your orcharding business.

Naturally, taking the step to convert or develop new blocks comes with a range of risks and unknown variables. Good budgeting tools do however help to quantify most of the costs and impacts to your cashflow that can be expected.

Aongatete have developed a New Variety Conversion Model to support growers through this process. The budget should help you understand the effects that diversifying into new varieties will have on your income stream both now and in the initial seasons following development.

The model covers:

Conversion with stump grafting
Greenfield establishment
Combination of greenfields and stump grafting
Expected costs
Expected impacts on cashflow

Please make an appointment with your Client Services Representative to create a budget that is tailored specifically to your orchards specifications and conversion plans.