Dates announced for 2021 Olives NZ EVOO Awards

The typical crop load at Leafyridge … prolific. The beautiful bunches at Leafyridge are an impressive sight.

impacts on fruit. The emphasis should be on matching application to return and not being over-sold.

Tustin said the first goal of grove rejuvenation is to get disease under control and canopy management underway. If after two years trees still need improvement then nutrition is probably the issue so soil and leaf tests are necessary.

Discussion around fertigation was that this was very expensive and suited to higher value crops.

Pruning

The trees are in excellent shape for mechanical harvesting, with drooping branches also left to be hand harvested: the 2020 Frantoio yield was 25kg with machine harvest, followed by hand harvest of another 15kg. This approach worked extremely well because Leafyridge operates its own press.

Irrigation

The grove had been irrigated as required since prior to Christmas and this was reflected in the plump fruit and healthy looking trees.

Crop load

The crop is excellent, with some trees looking to again have 40+kg. There are also areas of new growth for next year with healthy 15-25cm extension.

Bella Olea, near Greytown - Chris and Hilary Penman

The Penmans are following an organic approach and are well on their way to full certification. The heavy pruning regime at Bella Olea resulted in a small harvest for 2020, which was supplemented by fruit from another grove.

The new regime is obviously working well and the Bella Olea grove is looking vastly improved since October - very good, in fact.

Nutrition

The Penmans are concentrating on nutrition to improve the overall condition of the grove and for productivity. Leaf test results were pleasing with only magnesium being deficient and iron a little low. The products being used are Biosea liquid seaweed and Moana fertiliser, supplemented with boron and magnesium.

Disease management

Liquid seaweed fungicide is used for disease management and while effective, it is twice the price of Manzate. The aim for spraying is monthly but at present is about every 6-8 weeks. Anthracnose was minimal this year.

The sheep are doing a great job of grove floor management, cleaning out suckers, and eating fallen and diseased leaves.

Pruning

Pruning is ongoing with the aim to reduce the trees in size and bushiness. Extension growth is now evident as a result of better disease control and the pruning regime. The prunings are mulched which helps with water retention.

Crop load

A great flowering has translated to good fruit set and the crop load is the best seen at the grove. Lack of rain had been a worry but recent rain has been good. Chris said they expect to continue to see biennial bearing but hopes this will even out over time with the organic approach.

Summary

All of the original Focus Groves visited following the recommended program for proactive disease management and canopy management have reached an exemplary stage. For other groves following the recommendations, the results are apparent in their harvest tonnage as well as overall grove health.

The organic and alternate approach groves are also looking hugely improved. The vastly improved tree health is apparent across all of the groves visited, with very little or no disease and plenty of lush leaf. The tree structure also across these groves has dramatically improved, enabling light and spray penetration and ease of effective harvest.

Typically there is an excellent crop load and all of the Focus Groves are already producing a substantially greater tonnage than the regional average. It will be interesting to see their 2021 harvest figures.

This is an edited version of the Milestone MS04 report of the Sustainable Farming Fund Project 19025 - Meeting the increasing demand for New Zealand Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Full details of the project can be found on the Olives New Zealand website: www.olivesnz.org.nz.

Organisation of this year’s Olives NZ EVOO Awards is well underway, with key dates as follows: • Entries open - 16 August • Entries close - 10 September • Awards Dinner - 9 October in Wellington,

NZ.

The 2021 judging panel will once again feature a team of highly experienced New Zealand judges along with international judges from Australia, with full details announced shortly.

Olives NZ Executive Officer Gayle Sheridan said this year’s increased harvest and general grove health due to improved conditions will no doubt see stiff competition for the major awards, with reports of exceptional quality fruit across the country.

Find out more and view past winners at the Olives New Zealand website: www.olivesnz. org.nz/awards.