Our Summerfruit & Stonefruit Knowledge

Our Growers | Zaknich Farms - Zakberry

Waitakere strawberry grower Mark Zaknich is a year into a long-term plan to move a portion of his field-grown strawberry production under cover.
A lifelong berry grower having taken over the Zakberry operation from his father Ivan, Mark spent some time considering the pros and cons of tabletop growing, starting with a small trial in 2020...

Our Growers | Danube Orchards

Anthony Rakich is a third-generation strawberry grower. Based at Whenuapai, the team at Danube Orchards use a tabletop growing system, offering a more sustainable solution. Remembering visiting the local Fruitfed Supplies store as a child, Anthony now uses the team for advice on nutrient combinations and spray programmes to help manage pests and diseases.  

• Brown rot infections occur as fruit ripens and when weather is wet in the three to four weeks prior to harvest. Make pre harvest fungicide applications for brown rot control prior to any anticipated infection events. Product options include Luna Sensation®, Folicur® or Rovral® AquaFlo. Ensure that these pre-harvest fungicides are from a different mode of action group than you used to protect against brown rot over the flowering period. Note that Luna® Sensation outperforms other chemistry in this pre-harvest window. Best resistance management practice is toalternate fungicides from different mode of action groups and to tank-mix fungicides where appropriate.
• Continue to monitor for aphids and mites and apply an appropriate insecticide/miticide if required.

• The summer generations of leafroller are active during January. For robust control, the application of Entrust® Naturalyte™ SC is recommended. Continue to monitor for leafroller through February. If thresholds are exceeded, another application of Entrust Naturalyte SC is advised but check market PHIs with your exporter before use.