New Zealand growers' hopes not washed away by heavy rains

New Zealand’s olive farmers started harvesting late last month, and although many producers look forward to a bountiful yield, they have been affected by the significant rainfall in recent months. Emma Glover, Olives New Zealand’s executive officer, said the first groves in the country’s Northland region started harvesting in late March. While most of the country’s harvest usually runs through May and June, she said the season is running two weeks later than usual this year. Based on what she has heard, Glover said the 2022/23 harvest would be down on last year’s, which was down on the 2020/21 crop year. ​“New Zealand had its second wetter-than-usual summer in a row,” she said. “Well-maintained groves, with good pruning and spraying management, are more resilient and therefore have withstood the weather better and should have a moderate season,” Glover added. ​“Groves that are not so well-maintained look somewhat shabby and tired, resulting in a mixed harvest across groves.” She ...