Late Frost Destroys 50-90% Of Blueberries and Kiwifruits Crops in New Zealand

In W43, a late frost in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions of New Zealand swiped blueberry and kiwifruits across the region, with producers losing 50-90% of their crops and some farmers their entire seasons' income overnight. Temperatures decreased to -5 degrees Celsius in the early hours of October 7th, 2022. Estimates show that the frost destroyed 50% of the national blueberry crop this season, with the Waikato region suffering a loss of around 90% of the crop. This was the worst frost experienced in 10 years, with estimated crop losses in blueberries of 3.5-4M trays.