Fresh produce marketer the Oppenheimer Group has announced the arrival of the first shipments of New Zealand apricots this season, with airfreighted volumes arriving on both coasts of North America last week.
Evan Myers, stonefruit category director at the Vancouver-based group, called the deal "exciting" and noted that the fruit had been a key part of Oppenheimer's winter programme for 15 years.
"Retailers value the high colour and excellent eating quality of apricots from New Zealand, and welcome the opportunity to extend their winter stonefruit offerings as the Chilean deal winds down," Myers added.
A short Chilean deal this year means New Zealand apricots will have a particular appeal in the coming weeks, he said.
"The New Zealand product can be sold alongside peaches, plums and nectarines from Chile to keep the winter stonefruit category going strong," explained Myers.
To ensure correct handling throughout the supply chain, Oppenheimer works with its New Zealand partner Delica to carefully select the best fruit for the North American market, with the apricots primarily grown by the Jackson, Darlings and Remarkable Orchards in New Zealand's Central Otago region.
"While this programme is very popular, it has its complexities," Myers continued. "An apricot is a delicate item, and requires specific expertise across the supply chain, from production, to packaging, to transportation and quality assurance. Over the years, with our excellent grower partners, we've honed our ability to deliver and exceed expectations with this item."
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