The Country
Record season forecast for Zespri kiwifruit
Zespri's final forecast for the kiwifruit season points to returns at record levels.
Latest from Horticulture
Stories and analysis from The Northern Express Herald.
Zespri backs new Red80 kiwifruit to lift RubyRed sales
Zespri plans 100ha of Red80 licences for growers in 2026.
Bumper harvest: Million reasons to smile for Tairāwhiti apple growers
A significant uplift in apple productivity is a game-changer for growers.
Golden visa cash helps fuel $12m raise for AI fruit-scanning start-up, Immigration NZ updates AIP numbers
Hectre's AI tools have already analysed 17 billion apples and 37 billion cherries.
How one scientist changed kiwifruit and avocado growing for good
Dr David Steven created the KiwiGreen system that transformed kiwifruit spraying.
NZ Rhapzody, the new hop off the trial block
Clayton Hops has planted the variety on four Tasman farms, with 10ha this year.
Kiwi company fights to get illegal apple orchards torn down in China
T&G chief executive Gareth Edgecombe said it was a significant win for the company.
Grower establishes Tairāwhiti's largest rooftop solar installation for energy resilience
The major solar power installation at Waerenga-a-Hika comes after 18 months of planning.
'Frightened all the time': Inside a $3m kiwifruit tax evasion scam
'Money mule' was allegedly kidnapped and assaulted after threatening to blow the whistle.
Avocado growers brace for $150b shift
More than half of New Zealand farm owners will be 65 or older within a decade.
Taste of the future: Teen chefs join Chelsea Winter at Avo Fest kitchen
The teens will cater for corporate guests and prep dish samples for crowds.
From a popular dragstrip to some of NZ's best wine: The curious case of the soil under Thunderpark
The old riverbed was considered “almost worthless”. Not now.
How a Waikato orchard is testing a new way to keep prime farmland in fruit
Annie Perkins has bought into the business, learning alongside John Woolford.
HortNZ welcomes RMA changes; Govt listening to growers' concerns: CEO
HortNZ hopeful RMA changes will lead to "clearer, more practical rules".
'No plans to ship to the US': Tariffs bite into apple grower's profits
“Until the tariffs are gone, it will be difficult to make a dollar.”
Fireworks spark kiwifruit orchard fire as summer risk climbs
Firefighters reached the third alarm blaze and left the scene by 12.45am.
Vegetable sector explores single ‘VegeCo’ entity
Six national roadshows have tested growers’ appetite for change this year.
Bee-killing hornet alert: Growers urged to check hives and report nests
Yellow-legged hornets prey on honeybees, putting pollination at risk.
Clock ticking for Bay growers as 350 water consents near expiry
Around 350 consents, including 240 relating to horticulture, will expire on Oct 1, 2026.
Suspicious fire tears through Coromandel kiwifruit orchard
The blaze near Pāuanui started just before midnight and spread rapidly.
Father of four finds long-term career through Hawke’s Bay horticulture programme
The MSD-funded Core Talent scheme gives up to 10 locals fulltime roles each year.
Chris Bray: 3 tech megatrends driving NZ's post-harvest revolution
OPINION: We need machine-driven agriculture, but with human oversight and innovation.
WorkSafe shuts packhouse conveyor after worker critically injured
The long-serving Riverlock employee is now home after leaving Waikato Hospital.
From IT desks to avo dreams: Orchard tours turn passion into profit
Tim Rosamond and Michele Ricou love spreading the word about avocados.
Scientist honoured for groundbreaking work in plant genetics
Dr Tony Conner led Southern Hemisphere's first field trials of genetically modified crops.
How Zespri is building golden kiwifruit supply
It expects 33 million trays of kiwifruit this year from orchards across five nations.
Serious injury at Ōpōtiki kiwifruit packhouse 'shocking and impactful' - GM
WorkSafe investigation under way after woman badly hurt while cleaning.
Supermarket price squeeze puts NZ growers under pressure
Wattie’s has cut local crops including tomatoes, beetroot, corn and peaches.
Special hub on farmer health at East Coast Expo
The hub at the February event will outreach teams, body and mind fitness gurus and more.
Food prices rise 4.7% in year to October, but cheaper veggies drive monthly decline
Vegetable prices fell 10.7% in October, the biggest monthly drop since 2021.