Pipfruit New Zealand today announced its crop estimate for the 2007 export crop.
Total exports of apples and pears are estimated at 16.6 million 18kg cases or 299,000 tonnes, representing an increase of nearly 11 per cent over last year’s crop of 14.9m cases.
“That we can grow a crop this size on a reduced land area is testament to the efficiency of our growing systems,” chief executive Peter Beaven said. “This crop represents a production level of 47t per hectare, greater than any other growing region can achieve.”
“The crop also looks to have excellent colour and condition. We are confident that our offshore customers will be happy with the quality of product we supply.”
New Zealand’s main northern hemisphere markets also look promising for 2007, according to the association. “The Europeans had a relatively small crop in 2006, and it is clearing well, while the US market for apples is strong. The Asian market is also expected to deliver good returns in the early part of the season,” said a statement this morning.
The largest percentage of the export crop will, as always, come from Hawke’s Bay, which is expected to supply 63 per cent of the crop, at 10.4m cases, while Nelson production will decline slightly to 5.2m cases, or 31 per cent of the national crop. Of the smaller growing regions, Central Otago is expecting a slight decrease to 380,000 cases, while the balance of the crop will come from Waikato, Gisborne and Wairarapa.
Beaven did, however, express concern at the high exchange rate. “All of our sales into the US and Asia are US dollars. At current exchange rates, we will bleed, just like the other primary sectors. The Reserve Bank needs to decide sooner rather than later whether it wants a viable export sector or not.”
