New Zealand’s buoyant apple industry is set for another bumper crop this season. The predicted 22m-carton season will help the industry reach its NZ$1bn (US$680m) export goal by 2020.
T&G Global produce almost one third of the season’s crop. This year, the company predicted an output of more than 6m cartons, up on last year’s volumes.
Around 95 per cent of T&G’s apples will be picked and packed for global markets who pay a premium for its flagship brands, Jazz and Envy.
'Our apples are looking good in terms of colour, texture, eating quality and flavour, and due to New Zealand’s superior breeding programmes, our world leading growing systems and post-harvest technology, it means only the highest quality fruit enters the market,” said Peter Landon-Lane, T&G’s chief operating officer.
Traditionally, most of T&G’s apples were sold to the UK and US, however Asia and the Middle East are rapidly emerging markets, now making up around half of the company’s exports.
Landon-Lane said the several new orchards the firm has invested in in recent years will ensure it can meet global demand for its apples.
