With funding now secured thanks to outstanding grower support, the ONZ Focus Grove Project is off and running. A round of preliminary visits to the four Focus Groves will occur in November, to assess their current status and to provide advice on the grove management plan. EO Gayle Sheridan said that, given the challenges that many members have faced with 2015 harvest, ONZ is also running mini field days at the same time. These will allow the provision of advice to other members in that region on improving tree health and also assist in addressing the issue of biennial bearing. Each will last for around two hours, with the schedule being: Hawke’s Bay – Friday, 6 November at Aquiferra, 4pm; Nelson – Thursday, 12 November at Kakariki Olives, 4pm; Canterbury – Friday, 13 November at Terrace Edge Olives and Vineyard, 12.30pm; Wairarapa – Friday, 20 November at Leafyridge, 2pm; Northland – Friday, 4 December at Olives on the Hill, 1pm. All members are encouraged to attend. For more information email Gayle at admin@olivesnz.org.nz.
