By LIAM DANN, primary industries editor
A huge transformation in the way that orchardists grow their apples and pears has created a unique partnership between the industry and schools.
The adoption of a new growing standard - integrated fruit production - has led to growers making big progress in reducing the use
of pesticides.
Rather than spraying apples regularly for all pests as a matter of course, sprays are determined by the seasonal conditions and in response to careful monitoring of the orchard pest and disease populations.
So, for example, more sprays will be used in wet warm springs than in cool dry springs.
In just six years all growers have taken up integrated fruit production or organic production methods.
Orchards are being sprayed with insecticide 60 per cent fewer times than 10 years ago, including a 90 per cent reduction in organo-phosphate sprays and an 18 per cent reduction in fungicide applications.
In the past 10 years the industry and the Government have invested $30 million in the development of integrated fruit production.
It is unfortunate then that when Pipfruit New Zealand carried out research into consumer awareness of the scheme almost no one knew about it.
"New Zealanders have the safest and healthiest apples at their doorstep. But consumer research indicates that consumers don't know it," said Pipfruit New Zealand chief executive Paul Browne.
Based on the theory that children have a big influence on what goes into the supermarket trolley Pipfruit New Zealand ran a pilot programme with 100 children from Hastings Intermediate School.
The children monitored pest levels in orchards, created pheromone traps and even helped to decide the timing of sprays.
The programme was a great success and Pipfruit New Zealand now plans a national programme to link schools in horticultural regions with schools in urban centres.
"Longer term we will look to introduce New Zealand exporters and offshore retail partners," Browne said.
The aim was to develop international links with schools and consumers in export markets.
