New markets and new orchards, along with expansion into existing export markets, are pointing to growth in the New Zealand persimmon industry over the next few years.
Access to two new major markets are on the horizon and the closest, mainland China, could open up within the year, according to industry figures.
“China will be possibly available for the 2012 season, but no fruit will be eligible because orchards need to be registered by September to meet the `expected` systems approach requirements,” predicted Andrew Douglas from marketer Freshmax. “So 2013 `will be` our first sales year.”
The US is next on the list, and steady progress is being made on negotiations, which are expected to bear fruit in 2013 or 2014.
“Again it is likely that a systems approach will be required for pest management,” detailed Brian Pepper, director of grower-marketer First Fresh and export director of the New Zealand Persimmon Industry Council.
In New Zealand’s established persimmon export markets, shipments to Australia have been growing for the past five years, Pepper says.
“In 2011 a record quantity, 121,455 4kg trays, of New Zealand persimmons were exported to Australia, and although the prices paid were a little less than 2010 the overall result was pleasing,” he said.
South East Asian markets also show potential for growth, according to Douglas, despite having been sidelined by the industry to a degree by the growth in the Australian market.
The upcoming 2012 season, which is set to start picking around early May, is so far looking like a solid crop with an increase in volume of around 10 per cent on the average over the last few years.
“I would suggest that the fruit size will average between 18-15 count, a nice size with less storage problems,” adds Douglas.
New plantings of the Fuyu variety are going in the ground in the Gisborne area, which will increase acreage by about 30 per cent within the next few years and will start to produce fruit in five years.
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