To promote the transfer of knowledge acquired through Research and Development (R&D) trials to the wider Fruitfed Supplies team, and beyond to growers and the horticultural industry, the Technical Extension Team was born.
Each member is a Technical Specialist in their own area of expertise. Elaine Gould specialises in subtropical fruits, Jon Peet in viticulture, Kevin Manning in pipfruit and Gavin Subritzky in nutrition. Their knowledge extends beyond R&D trial results, with each member involved in industry groups. This gives them the opportunity to share insights with the Fruitfed Supplies team, keeping everyone abreast of product developments and technological innovations.
Elaine discusses the training she delivers to Fruitfed Supplies’ Technical Horticultural Representatives (THRs) and store teams.
“Education forms an important part of my role. I impart knowledge from the wider industry, new product releases and R&D trials to the Fruitfed Supplies team. Extending the learnings from R&D trials allows us to provide clear messaging to THRs which they can pass onto our customers.
“When a product comes to market that we have trialled, we already have an in-depth understanding of how it works in local conditions, the most appropriate application timings, and the finer points that can only be known from seeing the product being tested in the field.”
Armed with this knowledge, Elaine says, THRs understand how the product will fit within a spray programme and can provide growers with the most up-to-date information on the best products available.
Having worked within the kiwifruit industry for several years, Elaine formed an extension group as she explains. “Myself and others from post-harvest facilities, Zespri, and Kiwifruit Vine Health, meet regularly to ensure the technical advice we are delivering is providing a consistent message to all growers.”
As part of the Fruitfed Supplies Technical Extension Team, Gavin specialises in crop nutrition. He offers support to the wider Fruitfed Supplies team around fertiliser inputs, and if required, helps THRs with assessing nutrient deficiencies in crops and analysing fertiliser and leaf test results. He also delivers training to THRs across the country.
Gavin’s industry involvement provides him with insights into how growing practices are evolving. “Regional councils are looking more closely at the fate of nutrients in the environment, especially nitrogen and phosphorus. This is having a flow-on effect with growers carefully considering their fertiliser inputs.”
To assist growers, Gavin says the industry is looking at developing software to use as a tool to better understand the rate at which to apply nutrient inputs. Gavin himself is involved with the industry group Sustainable Vegetable Systems, joining growers and industry representatives to build a digital tool for growers to aid in their decision-making around nutrient inputs for crops.
Image: Elaine Gould, Technical Specialist - Subtropicals
