Commercial pipfruit growers are flocking to join a $2.7 million residue-free programme, while more growers are opting for organic production.

Pipfruit New Zealand chairman Peter Beaven said 10 per cent of apple and pear production was either organic, or under conversion, and he expected that to increase.

Meanwhile, 400 per cent more Hawkes Bay orchardists than anticipated had joined the Apple Futures three-year residue-free programme.

Nelson orchardist Julian Raine said a similar uptake was expected among Nelson growers when the programme became commercially available in the region in spring.

Raine, who introduced his own low-residue green grow programme in the 1990s, said there were significant challenges under the programme.

"I'd be lying it I said it was all rosy. There are some issues, and blackspot is one of them," Raine said.

The residue-free fruit would be marketed internationally within the next three years.

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise has provided $2m in funding, and Pipfruit New Zealand $666,000.

Nelson Fruition Horticulture consultant Greg Dryden said the main difference with fruit grown under the Apple Futures programme was that long-life sprays were not used after Christmas.

This increased risks of disease, and growers had to be more proactive, he said.

Horteye consultant Jason Smith expected up to 70 per cent of Nelson's production to be under the programme by the end of the year.

Senior Nelson Bio-Gro New Zealand consultant Jarrod White said the increased organic production was driven by 2006 returns, with organic growers receiving about $50 a carton compared with $20 for commercial growers.

"The organic fruit leaving New Zealand is among some of the best in the world," he said.

Source: Stuff NZ