Harvest in New Zealand Shows Promise

Overall, there is a sizeable increase in fruit volume compared to the past two or three years, and many are feeling positive. Despite the difficulties, some producers in the area found reasons for optimism. See Also: 2025 Olive Harvest On the picturesque Waiheke Island, the long-established Allpress Olive Groves is reporting lower yields compared to last year . “Following a large harvest in 2024 and high rainfall during our 2025 season, fruit volume was significantly reduced,” said Neil Smith, the groves and grounds operations manager of the company.

Waiheke Island-based Allpress Olive Grove anticipates a lower crop this year than in 2024. (Photo: Allpress Olive Grove) “Fortunately, favorable summer conditions resulted in high oil yields of nearly 24 percent. Overall volume was also affected by a poor fruit set, an issue the company is working to improve by addressing the alternate bearing pattern of the olive tree. “To ensure more consistent production and reduce biennial swings, we’re continuing our grove management practices, focusing on regenerative pruning, disease control and soil health improvements ,” Smith explained.

Beyond the northern regions, most planters across Aotearoa are optimistic. “The rest of the country has had a much heavier crop, extending the harvest season as they wait for the fruit to ripen,” Grover explained. “The exterior of the fruit has colored well, but the actual ripening is taking longer than expected, catching a few growers off guard,” she added. Strong winds were another widespread challenge. “There has been a lot of wind, rain and machinery breakdowns throughout the country this harvest, causing delays and frustration,” Grover explained. “On the bright side, there have been no significant frosts to damage the fruit.” In the southern part of the North Island, Kapiti Olives is enjoying the results of its early harvest. Grant Crosse is enjoying the results of an early gathering despite heavy autumn wet weather leading to lower oil yields. (Photo: Kapiti) “We are in the middle of harvesting.

Our Picual came off the trees very well, cropping about 22 kilograms per tree, though the oil yield was only ten percent,” explained Diana and Grant Crosse, the owners at Kapiti Olives. “The olive oil tastes amazing.” “We’re attributing the low yield to a very wet autumn, which left the fruit full of water. After one day of shaking, the Leccino gave 30 kilograms per tree and yielded 12.8 percent,” they added. “Overall, aside from the wet autumn, the growing season has been great.

We’re hopeful as we move on to the Frantoio and Koroneiki, which are laden with olives,” the Crosses continued. See Also: Using Effective Microbes to Boost Organic Olive Yields in New Zealand In the hilly region of Wairarapa, also in the southern North Island, Juno Olives is reporting a strong season. “Much better than last year, with higher fruit volumes and oil yields.

Going to There’s more taste variation across our different cultivars this year,”, andrew Liley, owner of the firm. Still, Juno’s groves faced adverse conditions. “The winds during flowering and frosts closer to crop were a concern.

According to Meehan in addition, some difficulties. “Unfortunately, the Frantoio was very sticky on the trees. We machine-harvest most of our 1,200 trees,” she added.

Per to Helen and John Meehan, the 2025 season was much better than 2024, both in terms of planting and oil volumes. (Photo: Olivo) Aquiferra, a producer in Hawke’s Bay, on the North Island’s eastern coast, in addition reported strong results. “We feel the season has been great. We finished our crop about six weeks ago and are pleased with both the quality. The volume of the oil,” explained Tim Groves, co-owner of the holding. “From our two-hectare block, we harvested ten tons, one of the highest totals in the past six years,” he added.

Going to Tim Groves, his company enjoyed good yields and high-quality in the 2025 harvest. (Photo: Aquiferra) “This made the trees very tall very quickly, complicating spraying and mechanical harvesting,” Groves explained. “Our strategy moving forward is to prune more aggressively than in previous years to manage tree size, improve spray coverage and make harvesting more efficient. While results from the South Island are still to come, the outlook for the country as a whole appears strong. “Overall, there is a significant increase in fruit volume compared to the past two or three years, and many are feeling positive,” Grover verified. “However, due to the additional rain, [oil] yields have dropped a few percentage points across regions and cultivars.”