With beautiful blossom appearing on our trees, with kiwifruit vines beginning to bud, and with the weather beginning to settle, it’s easy to forget the horrors of the dreadful storms that lashed the area with devastating impact on our avocado growers just last month.

Not for decades have we had to endure such fierce and unforgiving winds that stripped avocado trees of all their fruit.

Although the Western Bay of Plenty is one of the fastest growing parts of the country, it is important that we never forget that our horticultural community who give us so much will need us to front up when rare disasters like this occur.

That community has been quick to rescue the fruit which was blown to the ground so that it can be given away. We owe them our prayers and support.