Interview with John Campbell

John Campbell was born in Clyde in 1952. Describes the location of the orchard on Conroys Road bounded on one side by the Black Ridge vineyard. Talks about his father buying the land in 1951, his coming in to the partnership in the mid 1970s and taking the property over in 1980. Mentions attending Massey University and being a fourth generation orchardist. Comments that it is good orchard land because of the mixture of soil types.

Describes changes in the role of women on orchards. Notes that the main role of his mother was to cook for staff while his wife runs the packing shed, accounts and is also often outside in the orchard. Comments on new varieties of fruit particularly cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots and apples. Discusses the need to keep up to date with fruit varieties and that the life of a tree is now about fifteen years. Mentions that this requires long term planning. Discusses cultivation, pruning, irrigation, frost prevention, frost and hail damage, spraying, picking, packaging, marketing and the role of advisors. Discusses permanent and seasonal staff. Comments on the increasing amount of fruit exported, the size of orchards and the cost of fruit.

Interviewer(s) - Elaine Gough

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-008551

Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s). 1 interview(s). 1 Hours Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2659.

Original recordings not available for playback. Surrogate copies will be provided.

Alternative form available: Listening copy OHLC-009236