Northlanders are finding it challenging to locate apples in supermarkets and local stores. However, it's not an apple shortage, but a temporary lull. Over the past month, a noticeable absence of apples has been reported, with varieties like Rose, Royal Gala, Granny Smiths and Simply Reds being unavailable at several New World and Countdown supermarkets.
An employee from Paihia Four Square pointed out their struggle to restock apples last week, managing to secure only one box of Eve apples. She mentioned that they were informed of insufficient apple production to last through the stormy season.
Northland grower Joe Thistlethwaite, who sources his apples from Hawke’s Bay, has also faced difficulties in procuring apples. He thinks that Cyclone Gabrielle and other storms last summer have contributed to this scarcity. Thistlethwaite reassured that apples would be available again in six to eight weeks.
Data from New Zealand Apples and Pears showed that nearly half of the crop from Hawke’s Bay region's 150 apple growers was affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. However, Brydon Nisbet, Hawke’s Bay Fruit Growers Association president, attributed the apple scarcity more to the end of the season than the cyclone.
Source: nzherald.co.nz