In a remarkable season marked by a stellar summer, New Zealand's stone fruit sector, particularly cherry orchards, celebrated the closure of their export season, having dispatched thousands of tonnes of produce overseas.
Central Otago, a pivotal region for growth, experienced favorable sunny conditions, contributing to a significant uptick in both domestic and international sales, as per Summerfruit New Zealand. The chief executive, Kate Hellstrom, highlighted an approximate 7% increase in cherry exports, totaling nearly 3800 tonnes, with Taiwan and China being the primary recipients.
"Certainly it's the biggest yield we've had in a number of years," Hellstrom remarked, attributing the success to overcoming previous weather and labor challenges. Additionally, the export of apricots witnessed a considerable rise, with about 80 tonnes shipped, a stark contrast to last year's dampened figures due to adverse weather. Despite the challenges posed by Cyclone Gabrielle, especially to Hawke's Bay growers, Central Otago's apricot production thrived, promising continued availability in domestic markets. However, the cyclone's aftermath has led to a roughly 40% reduction in the overall volume of Hawke's Bay's summerfruit, with profitability remaining a concern for the region's growers following three consecutive challenging seasons.
Source: rnz.co.nz