Maarten’s legacy to the apple industry

When Maarten van Geldermalsen went to work at the former Appleby Research Orchard in 1951, it was a shingle road, now known as the Coastal Highway, and you could guarantee at least 15 nights of frost in June.

The 97-year-old spent 33 years of his career at the research orchard, including 16 as manager at a time the industry was developing integrated pest management systems to replace the use of pesticides.

Last week’s local history page in the Waimea Weekly traced the history of the former research orchard that lay against the estuary on what is now Research Orchard Rd.

That prompted a follow-up of a former manager, living in Richmond, who played an important role at the orchard and helped change the way growers manage their apple crops.

Maarten identified the first predator of European red mite in the orchard which was resistant to sprays and that led to a breakthrough for the industry because it could then use pest monitoring with integrated biological controls.

It meant the industry could deal with the pest, while leaving beneficial insects unharmed.

“We discovered predators in part of the orchard which had been regularly sprayed for several years.

“The predators had developed resistance to the insecticide, so by combining these pest mites with sprays, integrated control became a reality.

“I sometimes think I must have done something good!”

A few things have changed since his days at the research orchard. Back then, he says, their weather analysis at the orchard enabled them to provide good data for growers.

“We thought we could predict the weather. Now it’s more unpredictable.”

Maarten did a three-year stint to Clyde after managing the research orchard and then returned just before his retirement to work as a technician on the orchard.

At the time, Maarten and his wife bought a house in Richmond and photos on the wall show just how much has changed.