Electric Cherries in the ODT: Driving New Zealand’s Energy Transition
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It’s always great to see the conversation around electric farming gaining momentum, and we were especially proud to be featured in the Otago Daily Times in a piece focused on the energy transition happening across New Zealand. The article shines a light on the big picture of what we’re trying to achieve here at Forest Lodge and dives into how we’ve reimagined what a modern orchard can be. From ditching diesel and petrol altogether, to generating and storing all of our own power on-site, it’s been a journey built on rethinking the way things have always been done. When we first started planning Forest Lodge, we didn’t necessarily set out to build the world’s first 100% electric, zero-emissions cherry orchard. But as the numbers added up, and the technology proved itself, it became obvious that this was not only the right move for the planet, but for the business.
Mike Casey, our founder, spoke with the ODT about how renewable energy has gone from a "nice to have" to a genuine economic advantage. Solar power, battery storage, and electric machinery aren’t just better for the environment (and it's also cheaper to run and maintain!) And when you’re running a high-output seasonal operation like a cherry orchard, those savings really matter. We know farming is traditionally seen as a hard-to-decarbonise sector, but we like to believe that we are living proof that with the right technology and a bit of a mindset shift, it’s entirely possible. In fact, many of the tools we use are commercially available right now.
It was a great opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come and to help push the national conversation forward. The more we can show that electric farming works, the more we can encourage others to start their own transitions, whether it’s a tractor or an entire farm.
You can read the full article from the Otago Daily Times here.