Huge potential among the persimmons
APIONEERING orchard in the Waikato growing the niche crop of persimmons is for sale by negotiation. The four-hectare Long Ridge orchard at 811 Hakarimata Road has been growing persimmons commercially since the mid-1980s in a picturesque valley next to the Waikato River.
Over the past three seasons it has averaged annually about 60 tonnes of persimmons (or 15,100 trays).
The 2017/2018 harvest generated a gross income of $220,547 from the 2.3ha canopy orchard.
Peter Kelly and Karl Davis of Bayleys Hamilton say when Long Ridge began producing the fruit, only 20 tonnes were being exported.
By 1989, 400 tonnes were being exported and by the early 2000s, 12,800 tonnes, which continues to be the norm today.
About 75 percent of New Zealand’s persimmon crop is exported. Markets include Australia, Canada, Europe, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Korea, Vietnam and Thailand, with more recent access into China and the United States.
Long Ridge is planted with the fuyu variety, which is the most commonly grown in New Zealand. Its non-astringent taste means it can be eaten while still crisp.
Persimmon grown in New Zealand matures in April and May, with the export season running until the end of July.
The fruit from Long Ridge is sent to an industryrecognised packhouse in north Auckland, where the focus is on export markets (the remainder is sold domestically).
Kelly says the Long Ridge orchard has consistently benefited from outstanding husbandry.
The persimmon crop is protected from winds by established shelterbelts, the orchard is on sandy loam soils and a professionally recommended fertiliser programme is followed.
Irrigation water is sourced from a consented 13-metre bore, with water pumped around the orchard through main 50-millimetre main lines and 13-millimetre lateral feeders.
The Long Ridge sale includes a 160 square metre four-bedroom, two-bathroom brick and weatherboard home with a swimming pool, a three-bay steel-clad implement shed with a concrete floor, a lockable tool storage area and toilet facility, a steel-clad spray storage shed and a brick-and-timber irrigation pump shed.
Also being sold with the business are a Ferrari orchard tractor, crop sprayer, weed sprayer, fertiliser spreader, mower, picking, pruning equipment and irrigation pumps and controls.
Kelly says Long Ridge orchard has produced consistently for a number of seasons, using proven growing and plant management systems, and supplying an international export marketing company.
He says overseas demand for NZ persimmons has not yet been satisfied.
Virtually all NZ’s persimmon crop is grown in the upper North Island, with Gisborne being the biggest production region.
Other orchards are in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Hawke’s Bay.
Long Ridge is near other small land holdings, so there is potential to buy or lease other land in the vicinity to increase output using existing plant and equipment, Davis says.
For more information, contact Peter Kelly on 027 432 4278 (peter.kelly@bayleys.co.nz) or Karl Davis on 027 496 4633 (karl.davis@bayleys.co.nz).