Branching Out

It’s a big change to branch out from a career in education, being a schoolteacher in Auckland, Whanganui and London, to an orchard supervisor in Brightwater but Sam Boardman, supervisor at Willisbrook Orchard Brightwater, has never looked back. “I came to the area around three years ago on a house-sitting stint, I had no plans to stay,” Sam says, “I took a seasonal job for the few months I was going to be here and thought I was just another kiwi doing a fruit picking stint.”

Sam didn’t come from a rural background and had no prior orchard experience, yet he found a genuine passion for the industry and is now pruning towards his fourth apple harvest. “I’ve learnt so much yet there is still more to learn, everything is constantly changing, and I really enjoy that.” Adds Sam.

The orchard is around 80 hectares in total, with approximately 45 of that in apples and the rest kiwifruit, however Sam’s role is dedicated to the apple side of the business. There are five main varieties on the property- Envy, Jazz, Sonya, Breeze and Gala- which after harvest are all transported to Stoke where they are graded, packed and then exported.  The apples are exported to places such as Asia, Europe, China, Vietnam, and the UK.

Pruning at the orchard is a big job, they start in June and finish in September before the flower buds begin to swell. Pruning apple trees concentrates the amount of food and energy the tree has available for growing blossom and fruit, rather than producing too many branches and leaves. Winter pruning also spurs vigorous growth and all pruning at the orchard is focused on allowing the tree to get optimum light. The pruning is done by RSE workers, yet Sam enjoys joining in. “I like using the tools, apple picking is just hands and bags, it’s nice after harvest to move into a different stage of the process.” adds Sam.

The RSE workers are all from Tonga and majority of the group come from a group of small islands in the central part of Tonga named ‘Ha’apai’. Sam says, “The guys are great; they are good workers and some of them are back for their nineth and tenth harvest.”

The first step before pruning begins is an important and thorough pest and disease check. “We are always on the lookout for anything that is going to harm the leaves or the trees,” Sam explains “Pest and disease control is crucial to producing high-quality fruit needed for a decent financial return, it’s also vital so that we can continue to have access to the overseas markets.” Many importing counties such as Taiwan, China, Japan, Thailand and India have zero tolerance polices when it comes to pests and diseases.  Some common pests to apple trees here include Codling Moth, Leafrollers and Black spot (scab), which is a common problem in all regions.  “We spray all year round, but our biggest spray is in spring when everything starts to come to life,” Sam explains “Every season sees new challenges and surprises, especially when talking about the weather.”

Sam also says the work can be physically challenging at times but that’s something he enjoys, which is good news considering our region is responsible for 15 percent of New Zealand’s total apple export. Sam says, “It’s a satisfying job to be able to see the results of our hard work, from pruning to the first bud, to the last apple picked, its validation of a job well done.”