Hail-lashed Bay orchards could lose two-thirds of crops

Rose Harding
Hawke's Bay fruitgrowers have again been hammered by hail.
The Pakowhai, Twyford/Raupare and Meeanee areas appear to have borne the brunt of Saturday afternoon's storms but there are reports of pockets of damage in the Longlands area.
For some of the growers hit on Saturday it was the second time in two months they have had to watch their crops damaged, after an earlier storm in late October.
Oak Avenue grower and Pipfruit New Zealand's new chief executive Peter Beaven said those orchards could have lost up to 70 percent of this year's crop.
"We did not need this."
His orchard was hit twice in Saturday's downpour.
It appeared the hail had bruised fruit rather than cutting it, meaning the damage could take some days to show up.
Wilson Road grower Mike Davis said the hail did not cause as much damage as it could have because it was not driven by high winds.
Although his stonefruit crop was hit, it was not a write-off because the hail was patchy.
He said his export apple crop would suffer the most.
Orchards south of Hastings and Havelock North were not as badly hit although at least one grower at the Havelock North end of Longlands Road reported extensive damage.
"After the year we've had this is just another burden. There will be some growers struggling to make it through the season," Mr Beaven said.
Pakowhai grower Nigel Cooper said his pipfruit orchards were badly hit but he hoped to be able to thin the damage off. He estimates he could have lost 50 percent of an expected 120,000-carton crop.
"If the damage is widespread that could mean shortage of apples next season."
Golden queen peaches were not as ripe and should have been able to withstand the storm better, he said.
"There won't be many growers who haven't been hit by hail this year."
Fruitgrowers' Federation southern North Island director Ru Collin said it was too early to tell the real extent of damage.
"It's very hard to work out until the bruising appears.
"There doesn't appear to be any obvious damage, but we'll know more in a few days.
"It might not be so bad," Mr Collin said.
"It's the last thing we need at this time of year, when many orchardists have finished thinning."
Stome fruit sector spokesman Brian Fulford said his orchard on the southern edge of Hastings received some "mushy" hail.
Omahu Road grower Kevin Hope said he thought "someone must be looking after us" as the storm hit orchards further north of his property.