Early-season variety opens the 2026 New Zealand export season
Australasian fresh produce supplier, Te Mata Exports, has begun exports of its early-season a1 apple this month, with its first shipment to China among the earliest from New Zealand this season.
“We started harvesting our exclusive a1 variety on 19 January in both Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay about a week earlier than expected,” said Te Mata Exports CEO, Sarah McCormack.
This was largely thanks to good weather in the latter half of 2025, which, according to McCormack, contributed to fruit maturity coming forward. It has also maintained the quality standard set last year.
“Thanks to the warm and relatively dry weather, our fruit quality is excellent this season,” McCormack said. “The fruit is very clean and the colour is exceptional.”
McCormack said the a1 apple is known for its vibrant colour, crisp bite, and smooth, sweet balance making it a strong fit for consumers across Asia.
“In market, a1 is quickly building a following, with repeat orders and stronger early interest from customers,” she said.
Te Mata expects to follow up its first load with strong volumes of a1 apples to China over the course of the season. Vietnam and Japan will also be key markets for the exports this year, and it hopes to add other South-East Asian markets, as well as India, to its 2026 lineup.
“We have been shipping a1 to China for a few years now, but volumes have only been small as our trees have come into production and we have built up to our total planned area of 100ha,” McCormack explained. “The timing, quality and colour of a1 is very appealing so we are already seeing increased demand from China and other markets.”
To support the campaign throughout Asia, Te Mata will launch a series of promotional activities across wholesale and retail channels.
“We will be conducting wholesale market promotional launches in Guangzhou and Shanghai to coincide with the first container arrivals,” McCormack said. “We will also be running gift with purchase promotions in retail stores across some of our other markets.”
