The number of orchardists in New Zealand’s Nelson region has been dropping, as corporate growers take over family farms. Steve Moriarty, general manager for Inglis Horticulture, said his company has been expanding by buying land from other growers who have decided to leave the fruit industry. Although the number of growers is shrinking, production has been fairly steady. A year ago, Inglis formed a joint venture with ENZA, which is part of Turners and Growers, one of New Zealand’s major produce distributors and marketers. “It’s getting too hard for the small family farmer,” Moriarty explained. “The average family farm is […]