Growing an Almond Opportunity

Going nuts for local crop diversification

The Central Hawke’s Bay landscape could soon see almond trees popping up alongside stonefruit and grapes.  

Central Hawke's Bay has a concentration of highly productive and versatile land that is some of the best in the country. 

Key to long-term sustainability of our horticulture and agriculture industry is the establishment of viable new crops. Diversification boosts land use efficiency and reduces ecological, environmental and financial risks. 

The Growing an Almond Opportunity Ministry of Primary Industries project explores sustainable almond production in the Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne regions. The first research phase was completed at the end of 2022. This project may prove a model for assessment of other suitable crops.

Research

Plant & Food Research and AgFirst Hawke’s Bay have produced three reports, including a market report, economic analysis and a land use and climate suitability modelling report. 

Read the reports at the links below: 

• A consumer market research report, The premium market & the conscious consumer (Plant & Food Research Stakeholder & Consumer Intelligence Team). 
• An economic analysis report, Economics of Almond production in Central Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand (AgFirst Hawke’s Bay). 
• A land use and climate suitability modelling report, Suitability modelling and life cycle analysis for almond cultivation in Hawke’s Bay and Poverty Bay (Plant & Food Research Land Use Impacts Team). 
• Key findings from all three reports.

In Central Hawke’s Bay the research has extended to the orchard of a hobby grower and former CHB Councillor, Tony Kuklinski. He has planted around three hundred almond trees over a couple of hectares. Plant & Food also have some trees on their Havelock North site.  

Interested in knowing more?

If you’re interested in finding out more about almond growing in Central Hawke’s Bay, please contact Tessa Leitch at Plant & Food Research Havelock North: Tessa.Leitch@plantandfood.co.nz 

The Ministry for Primary Industries is leading the Growing an Almond Opportunity project alongside project contributors and funders Central Hawke's Bay District Council, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Wairoa District Council, Hastings District Council and nut butter producer Picot Productions Limited, supported by Ngati Porou, Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa Trust, Taiwhenua o Tamatea and Hawke’s Bay Future Farming Trust.