Summerfruit regions
Apricots, cherries, nectarines, peaches and plums are grown in Hawkes Bay, Marlborough and Central Otago
Hawkes Bay Marlborough Central Otago
Hot summers and cool winters are essential for good summerfruit production. Our crops rely heavily on the weather, which affects all aspects of growing summerfruit. In particular, rain at harvest can damage the crop.
Summerfruit growing areas typically have cool winters, rainfall well below the national average and higher than average sunshine hours. These areas are also good for growing other crops such as apples, pears and grapes, so there is lots of seasonal work in these areas.
The New Zealand summerfruit season runs from November to March with the peak export harvest being December to February. The main growing areas are Hawke’s Bay and Central Otago, with some production remaining in Marlborough, north of Auckland and Canterbury.
Nectarines facts
This juicy, delicious Pītiti kiri, Nectarine, is available right at the peak of our New Zealand summer!
Did you know…
- Nectarines originated in China over 2000 year ago and was taken to Persia and then on to Greece and Rome
- Nectarines got their name after a Chinese emperor referred to them as “nectar of the gods”
- Nectarines belong to the same species as peaches. In fact they are one gene away from being a peach. It is all in the fuzzy v smooth skin gene!
- Hawke’s Bay and Central Otago have climates that are great for growing nectarines.
