Early indications suggest around 10 per cent of New Zealand’s avocado crop has been lost as a result of storm damage.
The growing regions around Whangarei and the Far North, were battered by heavy winds and rain earlier this month.Steve Trickett of leading New Zealand exporter Avanza said the damage was largely confined to the Northland area, with production in the larger Bay of Plenty growing region relatively unscathed.
“The Northland regions were expected to contribute approximately 35 per cent of the industry crop,” Trickett told Asiafruit. “Estimates suggest these regions have suffered around 30 per cent crop loss, including both local market and export grade fruit.”
The New Zealand industry had been buoyant about the upcoming 2014/15 season, with early indications suggesting export volumes could top 5m trays, on the back of a record crop.
Exporters had already began exploring additional options for moving the large volume of fruit, including a return to the US market for the first time in a number of years. Trickett said these expansion programmes were now being scaled back, in order to meet the high level of demand coming out of core markets.
“On a national crop basis, exporters are generally working to a scenario of a 10 per cent reduction overall,” Trickett explained. “As a result, changes will be made firstly to the volume allocated to the US market, with priority being given to meet commitments made to Japan and other Asian market customers.”
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