Serious effort over months to grow giant pumpkin
Fruit or vegetable, a couple of amateur Clutha growers have grown some whopper pumpkins this year. Reporter Mary-Jo Tohill had a chat to them following their wins at the recent 5th annual South...
Farming
Boutique brewer hopping to it in Kaka Point
Boutique brewer hopping to it in Kaka Point
It would be fair to say that South Otago craft beer brewer Norm Macleod is hopping with enthusiasm.
Feedback sought on orchard industry project
Feedback sought on orchard industry project
After every operation comes the debrief, and the organisers of Operation Cromwell Harvest are seeking feedback on its work to obtain — and keep — workers on Central Otago orchards.
Lamont Wines placed in receivership
Lamont Wines placed in receivership
An organic Central Otago vineyard has been placed in receivership, after two separate parties appointed receivers.
Waitaki wine industry shows huge potential
Waitaki wine industry shows huge potential
Te Kano Estate may be a familiar name in the Central Otago wine industry, but it is the new kid on the Waitaki wine block.
Pupils help create native ecosystem
Pupils help create native ecosystem
Mayfield School pupils have taken their learning of biodiversity out into the field, helping with the planting of 200 flaxes and Carex secta at the farm of Michael and Margaret Rushton, of Anama.
Te Kano expands, buying Waitaki winery
Te Kano expands, buying Waitaki winery
Te Kano Estate may be a familiar name in the Central Otago wine industry, but it is the new kid on the Waitaki wine block.
Report’s view of RSE workers ‘gut-wrenching’
Report’s view of RSE workers ‘gut-wrenching’
A report questioning the economic value of the overseas workforce to Central Otago’s horticulture and viticulture sectors has been labelled as flawed.
Harvest starts of NZ's largest cannabis crop
Harvest starts of NZ's largest cannabis crop
Tens of thousands of cannabis plants are being picked over the coming weeks, as harvest begins at New Zealand's largest commercial medical cannabis crop.
Teens ready and raring for orchard work
Teens ready and raring for orchard work
A group of Canterbury teens have forgone Netflix and Xbox these school holidays — lured to Ettrick for orchard work.
Central maize crop most successful yet
Central maize crop most successful yet
Matakanui Station’s latest crop is an amazing feat.
Growing spuds not easy but enjoyable
Growing spuds not easy but enjoyable
John Withell’s freshly grown potatoes have a low carbon footprint.
Orchard staff may head west
Orchard staff may head west
The lure of a transtasman bubble and a reinvigorated hospitality sector may lead backpackers away from Central Otago orchards and vineyards, industry leaders warn.
Foraged apples put to good use
Foraged apples put to good use
A community event to celebrate the autumn apple harvest, and with a focus on preserving surplus produce, brought together more than 70 people in Wanaka at the weekend.
Former Mataura mill to manufacture hemp
Former Mataura mill to manufacture hemp
Growing therapeutic hemp could be a "home run" for Southland farmers, Southern Medicinal managing director Greg Marshall says.
Cherry business plans to expand operations
Cherry business plans to expand operations
Deep Creek Fruits NZ LP has announced a second capital raising to fund a packhouse and expansion at its Upper Clutha cherry orchards.
Planting for future generations
Planting for future generations
Emily Hamill is making her mark as a fifth-generation member on her family farm near Gorge Road, in Southland.
Southern hop growers find ready local market
Southern hop growers find ready local market
When thinking of hop-growing regions in NZ, Garston doesn’t immediately spring to mind. But an enterprising Southland farming family believes there's great potential in the area - and a craft brewery in Queenstown reckon they're on to a good thing.
Hobby vineyard demands a lot
Hobby vineyard demands a lot
For many, the thought of owning a vineyard is a romantic proposition, living the dream even. But visions of supping wine under the vines is about as far from reality as it gets for an Otago couple...
Potential benefits of fruit-harvesting machine hailed
Potential benefits of fruit-harvesting machine hailed
It is called the Tecnofruit CF-105 and the fruit-harvesting machine could prove a game changer for Central Otago’s horticulture sector.