The region of Roxburgh in Central Otago on the South Island of New Zealand has hot summers and cold winters which are ideal for an apricot tree to flourish. Certain areas in New Zealand cannot grow an apricot tree because of the climatic temperatures but Roxburgh and Alexandra are a few of the districts of New Zealand which have no problem with this type of fruit tree.
Roxburgh and Alexandra have approximately 1600 acres where an apricot tree crop produces about 80 percent of New Zealand's total harvest of apricots. There is some local processing but much of the apricot tree fruit is distributed to markets of the South Island.
The famous Roxburgh red apricot tree was first planted in 1866 by a man named Joseph Tamblyn who bought a few trees from a passing swagman. An apricot is an excellent health and beauty food and a small fresh apricot picked straight from the tree in Roxburgh, New Zealand contains more than 50% of the recommended daily intake of beta-carotene. ... continue below the picture...
... An apricot also contains significant levels of iron which is extremely important for the hemoglobin.
When an apricot tree flowers with white to pinkish blooms and lush green leaves, the fields in Roxburgh, New Zealand can be one of the prettiest sights to see.
Ripe Apricots on the trees in an orchard near Roxburgh, Central Otago, South Island, New Zealand.
Technical Information:
I photographed this photo with the digital SLR camera model Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II, aperture of f/7.1, exposure time of 1/200 sec. on ISO 100, as always I used a original Canon Lens, the focus lenght for this picture was 34mm.