New Zealand apple bosses are expecting a drop of 14 per cent for the 2006 season, they claimed at the annual Pipfruit NZ conference this week.

Peter Beaven, chief executive, said: “This year’s forecast of 15.5 million cases (279,000 tonnes) has been quite difficult to estimate because trees have been removed in all growing areas.”

Hawkes Bay and Nelson are as always the largest production areas, contributing 8.7m and 5.6m cases respectively, he said.

The variety mix is also reported to be changing, with key variety Braeburn expected to fall 20 per cent on last years levels to 5.6m cases. Royal Gala will fall from 6.5m to 5.6m cases. However Fuji is expected to grow by 10 per cent to 1.1m cases, and Jazz could double to 240,000 cases

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