Gourmet Blueberries Ltd Submission -Chlorpyrifos
Narandra Patel
Production Director Gourmet Group
My background
• Blueberry crop specialist >28 years
• 21 years in NZ science, 7 years private sector
• Projects in NZ, USA, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Argentina
• Blueberries NZ Inc., Executive Officer
• Production Director Gourmet Group
Blueberries -Gourmet Group
• Gourmet Blueberries Ltd, Hastings
• Gourmet Summerfruit Ltd, Roxburgh
• Gourmet Vegetables div (G Paprika Ltd)
• About 50-60% of NZ’s fresh production
• Intensive and high tech systems
NZ Blueberry Industry
• About 80 growers but 2 growers dominate
• 400ha
• 1500 T?
• Minor crop, value $20-25M
• Production late Oct-April
• Est. Waikato peatlands 1980’s
• Expansion on mineral soils 1990’s
• Market led growth, strong drivers
NZ Blueberry Production areas
new
traditional
34ºS
46ºS
500 ha
Gourmet Blueberries Ltd
Hastings
Gourmet Vegetables –a
division of GPL
Challenges on mineral soils
• Soil and water chemistry
• Organic amendment
• Pests –root chewing insects
Root chewing insects
• NZ Grass grub (Costelytra zealandica)
• Tasmanian Grass grub (Aphodius tasmanianiae)
• Porina (Wiseana sp)
• Black Beetle (Heteronychus arator)
Organic amendment
Enclosed in VIF
NZ Grass Grub
Healthy roots
Damaged roots
Healthy Plants
Dying Plants
Limited Alternatives to Chlorpyrifos
• Bioshield Serratia entomophila
• Yersinia sp
• Diazinon
Application Methods
• Granules at plant establishment
• Drip applied
• Overhead application in autumn
Application
Through Drippers
By overhead sprinklers
• Grow Safe trained operators
• Use latest equipment
• Re-entry periods
• Net structure provides barrier
• Monitor pest populations
• Measure pesticide residues
