Since 2022, Craigmore has been participating in Zespri’s carbon neutral trial to better understand the initiatives available to reduce the carbon footprint of kiwifruit production. The trial involved a group of 23 orchards producing Zespri’s SunGold variety under conventional (non-organic) methods. Growers were tasked with measuring all carbon-emitting activities on their orchards using Zespri’s orchard carbon footprint calculator, helping to benchmark emissions and identify opportunities for reduction. Wiroa, Craigmore’s largest kiwifruit orchard, spanning 137-hectares in Northland, was selected to take part in the trial. Converted from dairy farming to kiwifruit in 2019, Wiroa’s participation offered a valuable opportunity to better understand environmental impact and benchmark progress in emissions reduction activities. The 2022/23 season was used to establish a baseline. Over the following two seasons, growers were supported by Zespri with workshops and field days, sharing ideas and learnings alongside experts and innovators. Encouragingly, the trial has demonstrated a significant level of emissions reduction possible through growers adopting more efficient practices and technologies. On average, a 22% reduction in orchard emissions was achieved across the trial group. For Craigmore, the trial revealed that while overall emissions per hectare remained relatively stable over the three seasons, increased yields meant fewer emissions per tray – an encouraging sign of improved efficiency. A key outcome was learning how to measure emissions more effectively and identifying simple changes, like reducing fuel use without compromising crop performance. It also demonstrated that once inputs are measured, easy wins become more visible. In February 2026, Alan Dobbie, Craigmore’s kiwifruit business manager, was named a finalist in the Northland Ballance Farm Environment Awards. Judges credited the work Alan and the team at Wiroa have done to drive innovation and sustainability – including trials such as this – leading to significant operational changes while ensuring native species can thrive and production remains high. Alan Dobbie at Wiroa Kiwifruit Orchard in Kerikeri Published: 16 February 2026
