Darren Chinnery’s family grows Zespri kiwifruit in Riverstone Orchard in Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. In 2010 Darren and his family received the Bay of Plenty Balance Farm Environment Award, in recognition of their sustainable approach.

“Sustainability is high on our agenda, both for the business and for our private lives. But we try to do more than just treat nature with care; we want to give back to nature even more than what we take from it. Therefore we plant trees and take initiatives to enrich the bird life”, says Darren.

Riverstone Orchard covers an area of around six hectares and dates from 1982. When Darren and his wife Tracey bought the orchard in 1997 only the green Hayward kiwi variety was grown there. The plants were affected by the soil pathogen armillaria. Thanks to their dedication and motivation, the Chinnereys managed to develop Riverstone Orchard into a profitable orchard.

Their secret? They live in and with their natural surroundings. Darren: “I constantly want to improve the yield, taste and quality of our kiwifruit. This objective is part and parcel of a more large-scale aim to achieve an environment of value to pass on to our future generations.”

Darren explains his philosophy thus:

• He encourages the growth of indigenous plants, to the benefit of the soil and animals.Darren has planted 1,500 indigenous plants in the last few years, and will be planting more in the future. The plants attract the native bird population.
• Effective water managementThe rainfall is monitored, and Darren protects his fruits against frost and provides for natural irrigation systems. The river that encloses his estate on both sides has been fringed with indigenous grasses so as to limit flooding.
• Minimal use of fertilisersThanks to the orchard’s location - next to the river - the use of fertilisers is unnecessary.
• Environmentally friendly fruit with a higher nutritional value. By increasing the percentage of dry matter in the kiwis, Darren improves the nutritional value and taste of his crop. He does not give the plants any nitrogen after flowering, so the plant focuses on the absorption of dry matter. The kiwis grow more slowly but are tastier and more nutritious.