New Zealand apricot production volumes are down compared to last season, but shipments to the UK are set to increase this year.

“Negative weather events during the critical pollination period have pushed down crop volumes this year,” John Scott from New Zealand Gourmet Ltd told FPJ. “However, summer conditions have so far been exceptional - hot and dry.

“The New Zealand export crop generally starts with the Sundrop variety and moves on to the Clutha cultivar later in the season. This season, there are some new and exciting late varieties coming on stream that will complement New Zealand’s natural late season status - later than any other southern-hemisphere suppliers.”

Demand for apricots from New Zealand increases every year in the UK, according to Scott, who has supplied the market for six years, but only for top-quality airfreighted product. “Any lower quality lines are usually punished by the marketplace,” he added.

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