Fruit has been ripening quickly this season as warm days and cool nights give the required temperature differential for internal fruit quality and external skin colour. But it is still vulnerable to the highly unseasonable frost, which struck at the end of last week.

However, growers received some good news as immigration authorities bowed to pressure to allow tourists work visas to pick and pack fruit which should help gather the crop in more speedily.

Meanwhile, other reports from the agriculture authorities (Maf) in New Zealand indicate that this season for apples is unlikely to match up to 2002.

Spring frosts in Hawkes Bay and hail in Nelson, which are the country's most significant growing areas, as well as a generally cool spring and very dry summer will mean fruit size this season is small.

Royal Gala, typically a small-fruiting type, is showing fruit sizes smaller than usual. More fruit to fill each carton will make for lower crop volumes figures, Maf warned.

Last year saw a good crop, high market returns and a low exchange rate which brought top-fruit growers in New Zealand their most profitable season in a decade. Following on from a good season in 2001, the results have helped restore some confidence in the sector.

Topics