

Our Avocado Knowledge
Our Technical Horticultural Representatives and stores are present in the main avocado growing regions in the North Island.
Fruitfed Supplies also launched its avocado monitoring programme in 1997 and is now the largest certified Avogreen monitoring operator, a programme administered by New Zealand Avocados. AvoGreen monitoring is based on integrated pest management principles to help growers use suitable crop protection products and improve pack-out.
Avocado Tech-Know Tips ForNovember/December


- There are several options to control leafroller including Delfin WG, Proclaim and Prodigy. Be aware of pre-harvest intervals (PHI) if harvesting.Protect frost-prone orchards where needed.
- November brings 100 percent petal-fall, fruit-set and fruit drop, while December is the month for more citrus fruit drop and foliar flush. Maintain adequate irrigation to assist with fruit-set. For satsuma mandarins, chemical thinning can be undertaken using NAA/ANA. Most varieties, except limes and satsuma mandarins, are being harvested so be aware of product pre-harvest intervals prior to application.


- Control six-spotted mites with Mit é Mec or Avid plus Excel Organic Oil, which can be used alone on organic orchards.
- Control options for greenhouse thrips include Sparta, Excel Organic Oil or a pyrethroid. Fyfanon has a very long PHI (84 days) which prevents its use if close to harvest.
- If mites are present, control with Mit é Mec or Excel Organic Oil.
- Wet spring weather facilitates the development of fungal diseases like scab and melanose. Manage both with applications of Kocide Opti or Pristine.
Knowledge Hub | The Latest Avocado News


Our Citrus Knowledge
The Fruitfed Supplies team in Hawke's Bay, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, and Northland offer product knowledge and support to orange, mandarin, grapefruit, and lime growers.
Crop monitoring is also an important part of Fruitfed Supplies' offering to the citrus industry. Timely pests and disease monitoring goes hand in hand with our Technical Horticultural Representatives' crop management recommendations and accurate reporting for accurate decision making and auditing purposes.


Citrus Tech-Know Tips For May & June


- During winter, early to mid-season navel oranges are being harvested, so continue to check navel BrimA readings. Grapefruit, lemons, tangelos and some satsumas are also at maturity. Afourer harvesting starts late August and mandarins reach maturity.
- After harvest, pruning becomes a key
orchard activity. Avoid pruning in wet
weather and maintain tool hygiene to help
prevent spreading pathogens, such as
those causing brown rot, between trees. - Continue monitoring for mites during
harvest. If the threshold is reached, control
with mineral oil. Do not use mineral oil 14
days either side of a Captan application.


- Winter wet weather can produce prime conditions for the development of brown rot when spores splash up from soil onto fruit. Mature fruit are most at risk, particularly those close to the ground, so pruning low skirts of trees during winter pruning will reduce this risk. Continue applications of brown rot preventatives such as coppers like Tri-Base Blue®, or products like Dithane® Rainshield™ NeoTec if pre-harvest, or Fruitfed Captan if post-harvest. Pay attention to the pre-harvest interval if close to harvest.
- Melanose is a major problem on navels, especially in the Kerikeri area. It can be controlled with Tri-Base Blue or Pristine®, which will also target scab.
- Greenhouse thrips may still be present. Monitor regularly and control as required to manage the populations. Options include Fyfanon® or mineral oil but be aware that oil applied post-flowering may delay satsuma brix and colouring.