With kiwifruit being the "go to" good food of the 21st century, it was inevitable that orchard prices would skyrocket.

Belgium based company Keestrack, a manufacturer in the mining, recycling and construction equipment sector, has purchased Italian company Goldoni.

With more than 40 years of two and four-row self-propelled harvester production behind them, the latest Dewulf harvester - imported by Ashburton-based New Zealand Tractors - puts that expertise to good use in the shape of the RCA 3060.

While global player John Deere and German manufacturer Horsch are believed to be well down the track with autonomous field robots, it looks like Dutch start-up company AgXeed will be the first to enter series production with the aptly named AgBot.

Having got throught the ravages of PSA, kiwifruit production has bounced back delivering record harvests and record prices for orchards.

Probably better known in the viticulture sector, Tractor Repairs and Spares (TRS) is now expanding into the horticulture area - with a focus on apple - after purchasing the FMR business in late 2020.