Cyclone Gabrielle: Hawke's Bay Orchardists Still Recovering
Three and a half years on from when Cyclone Gabrielle hit Hawke's Bay, some orchardists in the region are still receiving counselling to help them deal with the trauma they suffered.
However, New Zealand Feijoa Growers Association (NZFGA) says adverse weather has left this season’s fruit “more marked than usual”.
NZFGA manager Ian Turk says much of the 2023 crop escaped significant damage from flooding in January and Cyclone Gabrielle.
“Feijoas are grown commercially from Northland through to the top of the South Island. This geographical spread has helped maintain crop volumes despite a challenging season,” Turk says.
“While the weather has disrupted the usual timing of the season, and fruit is a little later this year than normal, we’re expecting a good supply of fruit this season.”
While the amount of fruit will be similar to previous years, Turk says shoppers may find the feijoas in their local stores are more marked than usual.
“The high winds and adverse weather conditions have left their mark on the skin of the 2023 crop,” he says.
“But shoppers can be assured that the taste has not been compromised, you can still expect the same delicious flavour from this year’s crop.”
Meanwhile, Plant & Food Research principal scientist and 5+ A Day Charitable Trust spokesperson, Dr Carolyn Lister says feijoas provide valuable nutrition.
“Including just two feijoas a day through the autumn months will provide 64% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin C, which has an important role in helping your immune system,” she says.
“Feijoas are also a source of dietary fibre which helps you feel fuller for longer and is important for digestive health,” Lister says.
