Photo: Supplied
The apples from the 10ha orchard in the Pendarves area were generally plucked by fruit pickers every March.
But The Ashburton Courier understands the off-farm costs of getting the apples to market have been too high to make the operation profitable this year.
The farmer did not want to comment.
New Zealand Apples & Pears was not able to confirm by deadline whether the off-farm costs of getting apples to market, such as packaging, had increased in recent years, or whether growing apples remained a profitable industry.
Meanwhile, apple producer Rockit said recently it was planning on expanding production with more orchards in Canterbury.
Photo: Supplied
