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Hailstorms destroy fruit in New Zealand
New Zealand
Thursday 05 November 2009
Up to 10% of the Hawke's Bay export apple crop may have been damaged
Hawke's Bay fruit growers are assessing the damage to pip and stonefruit crops from a series of hailstorms that swept through the region late last week.
Hawke's Bay is the country's biggest apple and pear growing region.
Fruit growers president Leon Stallard said according to early estimates, up to 10% of the region's export apple crop may have been damaged.
Mr Stallard said not very many areas in Hawke's Bay avoided the hail, but the degree of damage varies.
He believes between 500,000 to 1 million cartons of export fruit may have been lost and not all growers will have hail insurance.
Mr Stallard said many growers are facing a bleak year financially, with the hail damage coming on top of cold conditions during flowering and fruit setting which will also lower production.
