There's not much John Pickering of Katikati doesn't know about growing nashi. His family was one of the first to take a punt on the new fruit when it was released from quarantine in New Zealand around 1985. Unlike many other original growers they arestill in the business and they do it well, but it has often been a frustrating ride. Now the prospect of being able to export nashi, along with apples and other pipfruit, into the strong Australian market, has put a new gleam in John's eye. "I believe that particular market has great potential. Nashi, when eaten straight out of the refrigerator, is juicy and refreshing - a bit like watermelon. And ours would arrive fresh at the height of their summer. It is definitely a summer fruit and needs to be sold into southern hemisphere markets for that reason."
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