Its growers are currently preparing for the stone fruit harvest, which begins in late November and early December for the likes of apricots, plums, nectarines and peaches.
“September and October were pretty good months, they were warmer and more stable than usual. That helps the fruit set.”
He said the Bay View area produced the earliest stone fruit varieties, and he would begin picking apricots and plums as early as late November.
He also grows nectarines and peaches which can begin to be picked in December.
He said people should not be surprised if fruit prices increased in the supermarket, as there would be less fruit available.
Paynter said replacing fruit trees was a lengthy and expensive task and it could take years before they were ready to harvest.
Cherry grower Hugh Findlay, who owns Cherry Gold Orchard in Waiohiki, had his orchard completely flooded in the cyclone.
That has severely impacted his cherry crops, although he hopes to pick some in the week before Christmas.
“I’ve got two blocks of cherries - they are half a hectare each - one block had its netting cover completely ruined and is now unnetted and open to the birds.
“That block is largely intact, but both blocks have been impacted by the wet with fungal infection.
“[It is] a very dismal season. I think the birds will get all of one block and what is left in the other block is hardly worth picking.”
He said anything they could pick they would sell to their loyal customer base, and the best way to keep track of when their cherries were available was to watch their Facebook page.
Apples and grapes are picked much later around February to April in Hawke’s Bay.
Gary Hamilton-Irvine is a Hawke’s Bay-based reporter who covers a range of news topics including business, councils, breaking news and cyclone recovery. He formerly worked at News Corp Australia.
