Owner of NZ suppliers Mr Apple and Fern Ridge predicts its combined apple production will top 3.7mn cartons by 2027
Scales Corporation, New Zealand’s largest apple export company, estimates that premium varieties including Dazzle, Posy, and Diva will account for 80 per cent of its export volumes by 2027.
Commenting in its latest annual report, it said the future direction of its horticultural division – which includes Mr Apple, Fern Ridge, and Profruit –would be strongly influenced by the recent purchase of orchards from Bostock Group (a major source of licensed variety Dazzle) and the ongoing development of Mr Apple’s own extensive production base.
It also forecast a further increase in total apple production to 3.4mn tray carton equivalents (TCE) in 2025, 3.5mn TCE in 2026, and 3.7mn TCE by 2027, which would be its largest crop since 2020.
“Our apples are sought after around the world,” it stated, “with Mr Apple selling to approximately 124 customers in around 33 countries. We continue to grow the strategically important Asia and Middle East markets, which accounted for approximately 79 per cent of export sales volumes in 2024, versus 77 per cent in 2023.”
Picking and packing has commenced at Mr Apple for the 2025 season, with initial crop indications described as “positive”.
“Pricing is also forecast to be positive due to several factors including the improving variety mix, larger apple size and favourable movement in exchange rates,” the group noted.
In February, it reported net profit after tax of NZ$30.7mn (€16.7mn) for 2024 – almost six times the equivalent result for the previous year – after a series of acquisitions and divestments, as well as its continued pursuit of higher export sales of premium fruit.
