Climate change threatens apples
New Zealand’s ability to grow apples is under threat from climate change, prompting scientists to start developing new hot climate varieties.
The qualities that make New Zealand apples like Jazz and Envy successful on the world stage – crispness, colour, taste – are a result of the country’s temperate climate, and require cold nights and warm days. Without this, the fruit can suffer a number of issues.
‘‘The fruit themselves they can get very poor colour they can get sunburnt, their texture is rather soft,’’ said Dr Richard Volz of horticultural science agency Plant & Food Research.
Fruit produced in hot climates also don’t store as well, affecting its ability to be exported. Plant & Food Research has teamed up with IRTA, its equivalent in Catalonia, Spain, to establish a Hot Climate Programme.
T&G Global (formerly Turners and Growers) will commercialise these new hot climate varieties in New Zealand and overseas.
As well as safeguarding New Zealand’s ability to grow apples in the future, it’s hoped some of these new varieties expand the range able to be grown in more marginal regions like Central Otago, or open up new regions entirely.
‘‘We know that whatever the weather throws at us, we will be able to bring several outstanding new apple varieties to market and grow fruit in regions that we wouldn’t have usually considered as suitable for growing apples and pears,’’ said T&G Global’s Sarah McCormack.
With 2018 one of the hottest years on record, and this January setting record highs around the country, the issues associated with hot climates are already being experienced in some regions.
Carl Fairey of Waimea Orchard in Hawke’s Bay said there are already issues with apples being sunburnt in hot years.
‘‘It would be good to get away from that problem, and it’s always good to have a variety we can colour easily.’’