Hailstorm could hit some Hawke's Bay orchardists at export market

The storm on October 29 as seen from the Bluff Hill lookout. Photo / Diane Draper

Some Hawke's Bay orchardists are set to take a hit in the export market after a thunderstorm dropped hail on apple trees near Napier.

Yummy Fruit Company general manager Paul Paynter said hail on October 29 had hit at exactly the wrong time for his orchards in Meeanee and Bay View. He was philosophical about the potential losses.

"Every year we get a 'five per cent event', and we are aware that a lot of things can go wrong.

"It's possible that we won't be able to export half a million boxes of apples."

While heavy rain across the region on Friday accompanied the storm, the hail caused "cosmetic" damage.

"The damage was more noticeable on apples than stonefruit because of their size," he said.

"On apples, a little ding grows into quite a big ding.

"About 90 per cent of our apples are exported. Our biggest market is Asia, and in Asia they love beautiful things.

"So an apple with the smallest ding can be rejected. The economics of some boxes will be significantly compromised."

Next week, he said, random trees in the orchards would be picked and graded to access the extent of the damage.

"We'll be thinning out the trees for quality purposes as well, and this will be done manually."

The apples not picked for export would be distributed within New Zealand, because NZ was more "environmentally friendly", he said.

"We are more conscious of the environment and not that inclined over the cosmetics (of fruit)."

Paul Paynter, Yummy Fruit Company general manager, says exact damage done to apples after recent hail will be determined later this week. Photo / Paul Taylor

He was still glad that it rained, though.

"The soil moisture is up, and it's been dry mostly, so it's really good growing weather.

"It's great that we haven't had serious frost yet."

The rain was also a godsend for Federated Farmers Hawke's Bay president Jim Galloway.

About 30 to 50mm of rain fell across some farms in Hawke's Bay on Friday, he said.

"It was really good to get the rain because it was starting to dry out. The recent rain means cropping farmers and arable farmers won't have to irrigate for at least another week."

According to MetService, periods of rain are also forecast for the region from Tuesday to Sunday.

"Rain would be brilliant for a lot of crops which have been planted including peas and sweetcorn," Galloway said.

"Rain typically is good for pasture, and the rain forecast will give it another boost. Hopefully, it will provide enough for extra feed for summer and winter."