NZ New Zealand apples

New Zealand pipfruit is set for its ‘best crop for many years’, according to the industry peak body, coming in at an estimate of 17.2m cartons (309,000 tonnes) for a 16.5 per cent increase over 2008.

The official crop estimate was released by Pipfruit New Zealand on Wednesday, and tallied pears at 318,000 cartons (2 per cent), with the remainder of the estimate coming from apples.

“We are excited about the prospects for the 2009 export season,” said Pipfruit NZ’s chief executive Peter Beaven. “All growing regions are reporting a strong flowering followed by a warm spring and low disease pressure. This has resulted in good sized fruit with high eating quality.”

Royal Gala and Braeburn still represent the majority of New Zealand apple production, and 64 per cent of exports this year, but newer varieties such as Jazz, Pink Lady and Tentation are rising in production share.

“Asia has become an increasingly important destination for New Zealand apples, and we expect that to continue,” Mr Beaven told Fruitnet.com.

“There is a slightly larger Braeburn crop this year, none of which goes to Asia. Varieties like Fuji and the Pacific series, however, are in their growth phases and will go to Asia.”

Mr Beaven said that while Taiwan remains the most important market in Asia for New Zealand pipfruit, the peak body had seen rapid growth in India and China, and expected that to continue.

“There's also been good growth in places like Thailand and Vietnam, with good relationships established by exporters with supermarkets and importers there,” he said.

New Zealand’s zero-chemical residue programme, Apple Futures, already covers half of the harvest, and organic apple production will hit 1m cartons this year for the first time, according to Pipfruit New Zealand.