Persimmon Production in Northland

A look at a persimmon orchard and packhouse business at peak season.

This is a family business run by Lindsay Wells, wife Terrie, son Duane and daughter Bronwyn. The persimmon and lemon orchard was started by Lindsay and Terrie in the early 1980’s during a period of high interest rates.

The started off with a nursery, planted shelter belt trees and natives and then moved on to planting out the orchard. Both Terrie and Lindsay held onto their full time jobs (DSIR and nursing), until the business found its feet.

The family bought an avocado packhouse in Maungatapere called Natural Touch Ltd. By combining persimmon and citrus processing along with avocadoes, they’ve managed to keep busy most of the year and provide on-going work for staff.

The packhouse has avocado specific gear and is set up for the export as well as the domestic market.

Persimmons are a relatively new commercial crop for New Zealand. In 1986 an estimated 5,000 trays were exported which amounts to 20 tonnes. By 1989 this had risen to almost 100,000 trays, peaking at around 615,000 trays (or 2,460 tonnes) in 2002.

Current exports sit around 12,800 tonnes. Most production is exported from New Zealand to a variety of countries.

According to recent figures the export industry currently consists of around 40 growers who pack their fruit through 16 packhouses, and 7 exporters.

Export plantings are widely spread through northern New Zealand – from Gisborne and Hawkes Bay north.

The major export markets for New Zealand persimmons are Malaysia, Europe/UK, Thailand, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan. The Wells’ persimmons go largely to Australia and South East Asia.

They visit their markets to make sure their customers are getting what they want – this is something that is increasingly handled by Duane. He’s recently returned from a trip to the markets.

Lindsay is a former DSIR soil scientist. He is very aware of the soil they started with and deeply involved with each aspect of the growing system.

They don’t fertilise just for the sake of fertilising, or spray just for the sake of spraying – everything is carefully analysed before acting.

Lindsay has developed a nutrient management programme that utilises frequent soil and foliar tests to work out what nutrients are required and when they should be applied.

The orchard is one of the highest producers in the country. The industry average is 4 to 5,000 trays to the hectare – whereas the Wells produce around 7 – 8,000 trays /ha.

Each year 40,000 trays are exported. The persimmon harvest is at best 6 weeks.

They’ve worked hard to develop orchard systems that suit the variety and region their crop is growing. Wind is an issue and they’ve developed a system to keep mulch on the ground.

The family says skilled labour is an issue in Northland. The family were involved in an initiative in 2007 called the Northland Horticulture Development Group, one of whose ideas was to promote horticulture in the north as a career. They were also involved with Ag/Hort training – but are no longer doing that.