I left Central Otago for head office in Wellington just as the first syndicates were being established c1983.
Although asked I was unable to give any endorsements to the first syndicates.
Not that that stopped several being formed and extensive plantings taking place.
I have often wondered how these syndicates performed and the return they gave to the investors and the region.
The subject syndicates were reviewed in an article in NZ Horticulture News. By correspondent and Orchardists wife, Dianne Gilchrist, C1983 They were =to be named here XXXX
The people mentioned in that article and others were to be interviewed to learn of the success or otherwise of these syndicates. What were the factors that contributed to success or failure as the case may be.
One interview has been held-with Gordon McDonald, farmer, orchardist and promotor.
Unfortunately a resource who was based locally in Central Otago withdrew from the project and so planned interviews did not take place and being in Auckland and with other commitments were not.
So unfortunately this interesting subject will not be canvassed. Unfortunate as there would have been many learnings from the successes and failures of the syndicates and their plantings.
Stimulated by export suspensory loans, and interest in new nectarine cultivars plantings of stone fruit skyrocketed.
Thirty years later very large cherry orchard syndicates are being promoted.
It would have been and will be very interesting to see what constraints to success if any are still present as were in the early 1980’s. And why some syndicates failed while others succeeded.* What constitutes success would need to be defined too.
Robert