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Philosophy
SAFE ~ SENSIBLE ~ SUSTAINABLE
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Our Main Goals:
- To grow our produce in the (environmentally) cleanest way possible
whilst maintaining a sustainable business
- To deliver produce with exceptional quality and great taste
- To strengthen the position of the Hawke's Bay independent family orchard
GUIDELINES
 The Hawke's Bay Clean Growers Marketing
Group believes that if consumers are given the choice,
they would prefer their produce to be grown with minimal pesticides, to be ripe for optimum
flavour and nutrition, and to come from independent family orchards where these qualities
can be controlled. All orchards selected for the Hawke's Bay Clean marketing group
are certified to guarantee the following:
- They consistently deliver produce at optimum maturity with superior taste and nutrition
- They use no acutely toxic or environmentally degrading pesticides in accordance with
Integrated Fruit Production (IFP) standards.
- They use ecologically sound practices which strengthen natural biological pest control
- They strengthen their soils through programs of natural enrichment
- They orchard approximately 50 hectares or less of permanent or row crops
- They have created good working conditions for their employees and promote an
atmosphere which recognises the workers individual contributions and worth
- They take time to communicate with their customers
"The Way New Zealand Wants Its Food To Be Grown"
In order to gain public support, Hawke's Bay Clean Growers believe they must listen closely
to the messages from consumers that become increasingly clear regarding the qualities
they want to see in the produce they buy and how they would prefer to have it grown.
They want us to stop using those materials which have been proven to be highly toxic
or are ecologically disruptive.
They want us to show more concern for ripeness. They want fruit and vegetables with
greater flavour and nutritional value.
We believe these expectations are not at all unreasonable. For them to be met the
link between the grower and the consumer must be strengthened. Anonymity does not
foster accountability. Consumers want to know who grew their food and that they
can contact them directly if they so wish.
Hawke's Bay Clean Growers believe such a rapport with their customer will establish a
return customer. We believe that independent family orchards can best deliver what
the New Zealand public wants. We are accessible because our orchard is our home.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR GROWER STANDARDS
 The Hawke's Bay Clean Growers Marketing Group was formed in October 1999 for the
express purpose of helping to discover cleaner, more ecologically sound growing
methods in order that we may supply a higher quality fruit to the New Zealand
public. We enlisted the assistance of Hawke's Bay's most recognised orchard advisers
and consultants and we developed guidelines for growing practices that are safe,
sensible, and sustainable. They are based on the internationally recognised principles
of Integrated Fruit Production, Integrated Pest Management, and Growsafe practices.
We have selected practices and materials that are designed to be the most effective,
least toxic, and least ecologically disruptive. Determining which pest control
materials we allow involves a continuous process of evaluation. We use both
informed information as is available and our own observations on the orchard
to help determine what materials and practices should be encouraged for the
proliferation of beneficial organisms and which ones should not.
In general, our policy regarding pesticides is to prohibit any material that has
been identified to be hazardous to public health. We have chosen to severely
restrict the use of pre-emergent herbicides because they often contaminate
ground water, persist in the environment, and destroy microorganisms and
earthworms, which are critical to sustaining healthy and productive soil.
PESTICIDE USAGE
 The Hawke's Bay Clean Grower
Group will restrict pesticide use to those options registered for use in
Summerfruit Incorporated IFP Manual.
Both insecticide and fungicide use will be based on monitored threshold information
rather than by calendar spray dates. Monitoring of the key pests will take place
throughout the growing season by the use of pheremone traps and manual crop inspections.
Insecticides will only be applied where monitoring information shows a potential loss
to the crop. Where such an incident occurs the softest chemical option will be used.
In most circumstances it will be possible to produce fruit to an excellent quality with
the use of no insecticides post bloom. We are committed to the cleanest possible farming
practices that can also provide adequate crop protection.
All that is possible to build up natural predators within the orchard will be encouraged.
Such predators include Ladybirds, Predator Mites such as T.Pyri, A.Mali etc. All products
used will be applied well within their registered withholding periods.
Fungicide useage will be based on weather forecasting services in an effort to
minimise pesticide use but still provide you, the consumer, with a sound fruit
that will not deteriorate in storage.
Residual herbicides will be avoided wherever possible in an effort to maintain
a good biological balance within the soil.
It is not our wish to tell orchardists exactly how they ought to farm. Every
orchardist's approach to fertilisation, irrigation, insect control and weed
control will be unique. An individual farmers ideas of the best farm
arrangement and harvest style will also be unique. There are principals however
which should guide individual farm practice choices. These are presented in
our growing methods section.
HAWKE'S BAY CLEAN GROWING METHODS
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
 Hawke's Bay Clean growers follow a set of guiding
principles on their orchards. The principles are essentially a set of steps which
take the grower from a philosophy to practical solutions.
- Grow varieties of produce which have a record of natural disease and pest resistance.
- Intervene with the farm's natural ecology only when absolutely necessary and use
materials with proven selectivity and gentleness.
- Continually strive to build and balance your soil. Use covercrops, natural covers,
manures, compost, mulches and minerals as necessary.
- Use crop rotation and fallowing to break pest cycles.
- Be as diversified as possible in crops and habitat.
- Do not feed or water beyond your crop's actual needs.
- Provide some year-round vegetative habitat for beneficial insects and wildlife
as a way to strengthen the farm's natural ecology.
- Grow the best tasting varieties of produce that are available.
- Pick your produce at optimum ripeness. Don't expect others to eat what you
wouldn't yourself.
- Work with your hired help on a regular basis to improve your understanding
and appreciation of their tasks.
- If there are children in your family, try to involve them at all levels of
the farm operations, including decision making. The strength and confidence they
gain will enable them to, some day, be able to carry on the work when you are gone.
 It seems simple enough, to plant only strong varieties that require little
chemical protection, but good information on varietal strength has been slow in coming.
It is the responsibility of every orchardist to fully investigate varietal differences
and the success or failure of specific varieties in their location. Crop rotation is
still the best way to break pest build up and where rotation is not an option, such
as in permanent plantings, interplant a variety of beneficial plants which are not
attractive to your pests. They can attract predaceous insects which can help
balance a lopsided ecology.
Plant many varieties to spread out windows of vulnerability. Frost may get
the early blooms but not the later ones. Hail may damage the plum crop but not the
peaches with their protective fuzz. Rain may destroy your cherry crop, but help your
apple crop. The market may be good one week but poor the next. Stay diversified.
Every farm is different and within every farm are various soil types. Soil management
techniques must reflect those differences. The general goal, however, is to achieve a
healthy, vital, biologically active soil with adequate organic matter to sustain microbiotic
activity creating conditions which favor humus formation. Nutrient deficiencies should
be corrected as applicable to the crops being grown in a manner that the farmer can afford.
Manures, composts, mulches, and covercrops should be part of every farm's fertility program.
But feeding should not go beyond the level of the plant's normal requirements. Over feeding
can stress a plant as much as under feeding, especially with plants having minimal needs.
Where the soil is sandy and depleted, applications of organic matter will be needed. It is
cheaper to grow organic matter than it is to buy it. Application of manures, composts and
returning of grass clippings/prunings to the weed strip are encouraged in this situation.
Weed control is based on letting the weed cover establish and then knocking down with an
environmentally friendly knock-down herbicide. The weed plant matter is then available to
contribute to the soils organic matter status. Depending upon what weeds you have, they can
often do almost as well as fancier covers, but require no sowing and are free. The goal is
simply to gain more organic matter.
Use of sheep to keep orchards clean over winter is encouraged. Not only does this make a
clean and tidy environment coming into spring, but returns valuable manure back to the trees.
Soil tests and leaf analysis should be done as needed. The plants will let you know if there
is not enough of something or too much of another. After corrective measures have been taken,
the plants will again tell you how you did. Not all deficiencies in the plant can be corrected
by simply adding more of what it needs to the soil. Sometimes the pH needs adjustment, or the
plant itself may be ill, inhibiting nutrient uptake. Records of all soil tests and plant tissue
analysis should be kept on file for future reference.
Before you plant anything, make sure it is the best tasting variety for the necessary time
slot. Have your entire family help select varieties. It is no fun growing average tasting
produce and it can be extremely costly to try to switch later.
Advice from our customers and consumer research into new varieties will be rigorously sought
to ensure only the best flavoured nutritious new product is planted.
Use our brix averages to tell yourself where you stand on quality. Sweetness and great
taste are very important to consumers. Softness is not always a good indicator of ripeness.
Run your own tests on your produce. Put it in your refrigerator for a week, pull it out
and leave at room temperature for a period of time, see if you picked it right for the
distance it had to travel.
GROWER EXPECTATIONS
 Orchardists who wish to market using the Hawke's Bay Clean Growers logo must
demonstrate the following:
- They are a true independent family farm. They must meet our definition of a
small family farm which is based on the public's perception of that concept.
The farm should be at their place of residence and the total number of hectares
owned leased or managed should total approximately 50 ha or less for permanent and row crops.
- They follow strictly the guidelines as laid down in the VegFed Quality Assurance
scheme and the SUMMERGREEN IFP Manual.
- They use ecologically sound growing practices. These practices strengthen natural
biological pest control reducing the need for pesticide use.
- They are working to improve the fertility of their soils. They are doing this
by increasing organic matter, balancing micro-nutrients, adjusting pH and using
mineral additives only where necessary.
- They maintain where possible some natural habitat for beneficial insects and
wildlife throughout the year.
- They are continually working toward improving their crop quality. They are
presenting an overall pack that is above the industry's standard.
- They have created good working conditions for their workers. They have orchard
atmospheres which recognise the workers individual contributions and worth.
- They take time to communicate with customers. They are willing to visit stores,
respond to customer enquiries and are willing to open their orchards up for visits.
(Decertification) Any certified Hawke's Bay Clean Grower may be decertified
by the board for failing to remain in compliance with the guidelines, or for
non-payment of money owed. They can then no longer sell their fruit under the
HB Clean logo. Such a grower would be notified by registered mail of the board's
action along with reasons for that action. The grower has the right to appeal.
The burden of proof of injustice rests with the grower filing the appeal. All
requests and notices of appeal must be made in writing and submitted within 60 days
of notice of decertification to the
Hawke's Bay Clean Grower Board, C/- of B Jones, 507 Tukituki Road, R D 2, Hastings.
IDEAS FROM GROWERS
 A willingness to share
good ideas is a vital part of strengthening the
small family farm community. If you have discovered ways that have helped
your farm in any of the following areas, please help others by sharing them
at Hawke's Bay Clean Grower meetings or by writing them down and sending
them to Hawke's Bay Clean Growers, C/- Barry Jones, 507 Tukituki Road, R D 2, Hastings.
- Input Reduction
- Wildlife Enhancement
- Soil Building
- Crop Quality Improvement
- Improving worker Relations
- Soil Conservation
- Varietal Improvement
- Worker Safety
- Strengthening Rural Community
- Farmland Preservation
- Rural Arts
- Native Species Preservation
- Good Neighbour Ideas
- Farm Practices Innovation
- On-Farm Recycling
- Water Conservation
- Education
- Creative Marketing
- Strengthening Rural-Urban Ties
- Tool Innovation
- Farm Beautification
- Other _________________________________
WHAT IS HAWKE'S BAY CLEAN?
 Hawke's Bay Clean is both a non-profit growers association focusing on grower
education and research, and a for-profit marketing group focusing on helping
small family farms to better compete in the market place. They offer a
certification program for selected small growers who can demonstrate they are
able to deliver superior quality produce grown in accordance with the Hawke's
Bay Clean Growers guidelines.
Hawke's Bay Clean is a recognised organisation whose growing practices are
based on the Heniz/Wattie Summerfruit Incorporated IFP standards.
Hawke's Bay Clean is closely aligned with a similar organisation in California,
called California Clean.
Hawke's Bay Clean is unique in that its growers are eager to share their
experiences and techniques with other growers and the public with the goal
of increasing the awareness of agriculture's environmental responsibility to
protect the air, water, soil and farmland for future generations. Their
growers have a long term outlook with full intentions for their farms to
remain family farms indefinitely. Their orchards are open year round and
welcome inspection.
Hawke's Bay Clean strives to give the consumer the opportunity to receive a
pure, nutritious, great tasting product while supporting the future of
Hawke's Bay's small family farms.
Hawke's Bay Clean offers a wonderful variety of fresh stonefruit and apples.
A good number of the new white fleshed stonefruit varieties are also available at
competitive prices.
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HB Clean
