Apple growers short of trees

Lean years in the pipfruit business are causing a hangover for apple tree replanting this season.

An industry slump a few years ago saw many tree nurseries burning stock or going out of that business.

Now, rising confidence and a surging demand for trees has created a shortage of new trees which could last two to three years.

Pipfruit Growers of New Zealand chairman Phil Alison said all varieties were in short supply.

There was huge consolidation as some growers got bigger by buying or leasing orchards and others took the opportunity to retire while their orchards were in demand.

Growers were pulling out old trees and planting new blocks in improved strains of royal gala, galaxy and the pacific series.

Those growers licensed to sell the jazz variety were also busy planting.

The shortage had been aggravated by the slump in orcharding in the late 1990s that reduced the number of apple tree nurseries from more than 30 to eight or nine.

"The nurseries were perhaps not prepared after a tough couple of years," said Pattullo's Nurseries owner Kerry Sixtus. The downturn meant there were not enough nurseries left to meet the demand.

He burned thousands of young trees and dug up rootstock beds last year because he had no buyers for them.

- NZPA