Supporting cyclone-hit growers at Hort Day

The succesful Evergreen Foundation’s cyclone recovery event dubbed Hort Day is being held in Gisborne in partnership with Trust Tairāwhiti today at the Four Seasons Packhouse. About 65 local growers most affected by Cyclone Gabrielle will be there. File pictures

Following the success of The Evergreen Foundation’s recent Hort Day in Hawke’s Bay, the event is being held today at the Four Seasons Packhouse in Gisborne in partnership with Trust Tairāwhiti.

Hort Day Gisborne is bringing together about 65 local growers most affected by Cyclone Gabrielle to connect with each other, industry experts, wellbeing providers and business support services.

“The event provides an opportunity to meet over a bite to eat and drink for a day of goodwill and support for our vital horticulture sector,” said Trust Tairawhiti economic development general manager Richard Searle.

The Evergreen Foundation’s Cyclone Relief Fund provides support to rural communities enduring hardship.

“Partnering with Trust Tairāwhiti enables Evergreen to connect with local growers and businesses to bring the event to life in this important horticultural region,” Mr Searle said. “It’s a great initiative the trust is pleased to support.”

Since the cyclone hit, the trust had worked closely with Tairāwhiti Growers’ Association to support the local horticulture sector wherever possible in their recovery, he said.

“There is still plenty of work to do but this is a great initiative to bring them all together after a challenging year.”

ANZ Aotearoa is the primary funder, along with major sponsorships from Kiwi Lumber, Hort New Zealand, Rural Support Trust Tairāwhiti, Eastern & Central Community Trust and Trust Tairāwhiti.

“Each grower will take away a fruit bin ‘goody bag’ full of practical items, orchard tools and equipment and other items to help offer a pick-me-up for this hard-hit sector.

Each bin was worth $4000 and would be free to the growers attending, Mr Searle said.

Kiwi Lumber Gisborne site manager Peter Sutton said they had seen a lot of hardship but also plenty of resilience in the region.

“So it’s nice to be involved in this event to acknowledge our growers and let them know they are not forgotten.”

NZ Apples & Pears, Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers’ Association, Tairāwhiti Growers Association and HortNZ directed event organisers on the grower guestlist, Mr Searle said.

“Their data and knowledge ensured the event supports those growers most in need across all horticulture sectors — apples, grapes, stonefruit, kiwifruit and vegetables.”