Horticultural exports from New Zealand grew in 2006 to more than NZ$2.4 billion (£896 million) - but processed products, including wine, are contributing increasingly to the total, whereas the input of fresh produce is dwindling.
Horticulture now represents some seven per cent of New Zealand’s merchandise exports, according to annual HortResearch booklet Fresh Facts 2006, and kiwifruit represented 30 per cent of this, followed by wine (22 per cent), apples (14 per cent), processed/frozen vegetables (12 per cent) and fresh vegetables (nine per cent).
Domestic sales of horticultural products were estimated at NZ$2.5bn. The total revenue of the industry exceeds NZ$4.8bn.
