11 Feb 2011

Area of kiwifruit vines removed reaches 29 hectares

7:44 am on 11 February 2011

More kiwifruit vines have been cut down in Bay of Plenty orchards as part of efforts to control the bacterial disease PSA.

A week ago, 20 hectares of vines in the Te Puke area, identified as having a more virulent Italian strain of the disease, had been severely cut back.

That has now increased to 29 hectares or 0.2% of the total productive area of kiwifruit.

PSA was first found three months ago in the Te Puke district.

It has now been confirmed on 147 orchards in all kiwifruit growing areas except Northland.

In the past month, 21 new orchards have been identified as having the disease.