Pipfruit New Zealand chairman Ian Palmer has praised the UK market for its discipline in what has been a tough season for NZ apples elsewhere in Europe.
“The UK is a very disciplined market but it is not the same on the Continent,” Palmer told FPJ this week. “Some of the problem is that Europe is more of a trading market and that can create a weak selling scenario.”
Some NZ growers have become increasingly concerned that marketing on the part of exporters has not been of a good standard.
Braeburn producers in particular have suffered poor returns in the past season but Palmer insists that this is mainly due to the difficulties in the supply chain to markets other than the UK.
However, he steered clear of any recommendations to return to a single-desk selling system. “In New Zealand we are well aware that that time has passed,” Palmer explained.
He also said that, contrary to NZ press reports, the same problems do not apply to Jazz apples. “There are moves afoot to manage the supply chain better, delivering consistently to buyers at the right time,” said Palmer. “There are no supply chain issues with Jazz and it has been included in this argument when it shouldn’t have been.”
Palmer added that exchange rate issues concerning sterling and the NZ dollar have hit Jazz returns to growers. “The NZ dollar has been at 48p, which is its highest level ever, and that has had a very significant effect considering that the UK still accounts for a large chunk of our Jazz business.”
Looking ahead, Palmer said NZ’s growers have experienced good growing conditions and are looking forward to good export quality packout when the apple harvest gets underway in two months’ time.
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