In orchards, apple trees are grafted onto rootstocks rather than grown from seed. There are a lot of advantages to growing apples in this way. One is that the “new” tree gets an established, healthy root system. Also, grafted apple trees tend to stay small, making them easier to manage. One major advantage is that apples grown from seeds can be very different from their parents, which would make trying to mass produce one particularly delicious variety of apple a Sisyphean task. In Motueka, apple picking season runs from February until May each year. Apples must be picked by hand, and overseas workers have been part of the seasonal workforce since the 1960s.
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