Horticulture earnings in New Zealand have broken the NZ$5bn mark for the year ended June 2007, as overall sales of fruit, vegetables, wine and flowers garnered record-high returns.
According to figures released by New Zealand-based science group HortResearch in its annual Fresh Facts publication, export returns for the year increased from NZ$2.36bn in 2006 to NZ$2.67bn. Fresh fruit maintained its position as the country's largest horticultural export, according to the report, with revenues of NZ$1.2bn mainly attributed to kiwifruit (NZ$765m) and apples (NZ$343m).
Despite this, wine (26 per cent) is closing on kiwifruit (29 per cent) as the number one horticultural export, according to HortResearch acting chief executive Bruce Campbell. 'In 2005 kiwifruit earned 31 per cent of industry export revenue, and wine just 19 per cent. Kiwifruit remains incredibly valuable for New Zealand and it is great that we now have two mega-players in our industry.'
The Fresh Facts publication added that the biggest jump in exported fresh produce returns came from vegetables, which enjoyed an increase in revenue of NZ$260m, up NZ$55m, mainly attributed to onion sales.
Mr Campbell sees a positive future, with high levels of growth expected over the course of the next decade. 'By 2020 our horticulture sector should be returning upwards of NZ$10bn each year with an increasing component coming from imports,' he said.
Speaking at the inaugural Global Berry Congress, which took place from 15-16 May in London, HortResearch's Declan Graham said growers were seeking to reduce their use of pesticides to meet demands from Europe for lower pesticide residue levels. Mr Graham said the group was closely monitoring a national project to phase out pesticide use in apple production.
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