Downward revision for apple production in New Zealand

While initial forecasts pointed to near record-breaking volume, recent data indicates New Zealand's apple production is expected to fall 8% from the previous season.

 

According to the recent GAIN report prepared by USDA, the US Department of Agriculture, for the 2020/2021 season New Zealand apple production is now estimated at 543,000 tonnes, or -8% from the previous year.

 

This decrease can be explained by the hailstorms which caused damage in the main apple growing regions and by the generally smaller size of apples this year due to a cooler summer. As well as by the shortage of manpower resulting from government directives to limit the number of foreign workers. Arborists have not been able to do the number of pickings necessary to maximize the proportion of quality fruit for export.

 

Exports for this 2020/21 season are expected to reach 345,000 tonnes, or -14% compared to the previous season. According to the Apples and Pears NZ association, production of the Braeburn variety for export will be reduced by more than 40% and the Royal Gala, Cripps Pink and Fuji varieties are likely to be reduced by 15-20%. In contrast, newer varieties such as Envy, Dazzle, Honeycrisp and Rockit will continue to show strong volume growth as new plantings come into production.

 

In New Zealand, the area of ​​apples harvested for 2020/2021 is estimated at 10,300 hectares, or around + 1% compared to 2019/2020. Due to the uncertainty over COVID-19, the growth rate of planting new orchards is expected to slow but replanting of existing orchards is expected to remain strong.