The Kiwifruit harvest season is here. Before the fruit is picked and ready for our fruit bowls, our sprayers need to clean the fruit. During the growing process, the outside of the fruit can get marks and imperfections that are easily washed away. This is done quickly before they pick, while the fruit is still on the vine.
What happens?
This cleanup process is done using water and low risk products such as citric acid, just like you have in your kitchen cupboard at home. The most common products used are:
Product Name (Active ingredient)
Citric Acid (Citric acid)
Jewel Clean LF (Phosphate buffered lactic acid)
Kiwilustre LF (Phosphate buffered lactic acid)
Hortcare Kiwi Stainoff LF (Phosphate buffered lactic acid)
Kiwisheen CP (Calcium Phosphate)
CP CleanER (Phosphoric Acid)
Liftoff (Phosphoric Acid)
These products mixed with water are applied on the fruit just before picking using an airblast sprayer just like other sprays are throughout the year.
Should I be worried?
No, The products used to clean the fruit need to be low risk as the fruit is almost ready to eat so it must not be anything that will be unsafe for consumers. Use the same precautions you would with copper and foliar fertilisers.
Why do neighbours not get notified?
Firstly - This cleaning process is organised right before picking is planned. Meaning growers don’t usually have 12 hours notice to notify the neighbours. A lot of growers don’t notify neighbours about this clean up process because of this.
Secondly - The BOP airplan does not class the cleanup products as an agrichemical as it is not a substance that is controlling, eradicating or modifying the flora and fauna, therefore notification to neighbours is not required by law.
Want to know more?
Please speak to the orchard manager that manages the orchard next to you. Their name and contact information will be in your text and emails you receive about other spraying throughout the year. If you don’t know who that is, flick us an email and we will happily connect you to them. Email us at [email protected].
What happens?
This cleanup process is done using water and low risk products such as citric acid, just like you have in your kitchen cupboard at home. The most common products used are:
Product Name (Active ingredient)
Citric Acid (Citric acid)
Jewel Clean LF (Phosphate buffered lactic acid)
Kiwilustre LF (Phosphate buffered lactic acid)
Hortcare Kiwi Stainoff LF (Phosphate buffered lactic acid)
Kiwisheen CP (Calcium Phosphate)
CP CleanER (Phosphoric Acid)
Liftoff (Phosphoric Acid)
These products mixed with water are applied on the fruit just before picking using an airblast sprayer just like other sprays are throughout the year.
Should I be worried?
No, The products used to clean the fruit need to be low risk as the fruit is almost ready to eat so it must not be anything that will be unsafe for consumers. Use the same precautions you would with copper and foliar fertilisers.
Why do neighbours not get notified?
Firstly - This cleaning process is organised right before picking is planned. Meaning growers don’t usually have 12 hours notice to notify the neighbours. A lot of growers don’t notify neighbours about this clean up process because of this.
Secondly - The BOP airplan does not class the cleanup products as an agrichemical as it is not a substance that is controlling, eradicating or modifying the flora and fauna, therefore notification to neighbours is not required by law.
Want to know more?
Please speak to the orchard manager that manages the orchard next to you. Their name and contact information will be in your text and emails you receive about other spraying throughout the year. If you don’t know who that is, flick us an email and we will happily connect you to them. Email us at [email protected].