Apple News NZ
Gala Braeburn Granny Smith NZ Rose

Apple Bytes - New Zealand Apple Newsletter

Issue 2: 15 January 2009

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NZ Anticipating full crop

Harvest dates looking similar to last year with the season expected to kick off with NZ Beauty in week 8 - around 10 February and Royal Gala in week 8-9 from 17 February onwards.

Pricing expected to be confirmed 10 days prior to harvest.

National Crop profile from Agfirst will be released on the 27 January, and we have more on the crop profile then.

Meantime, New Zealand exported 14.6 million cartons last season and this year crop is estimated at 15.5-16 million cartons. New Zealand is expecting a full crop.

Fruit still looks very good on the trees, and growers are keeping their fingers crossed for an excellent harvest.

Fruit set was very good.
Fruit size is currently large for this time of the year, so if this continues, we will have a large average fruit size for 2009.

In all growers are reporting that on the orchard things look good for 2009 with no real climatic events having caused issues so far this season.

Colour hasn't come on yet, but fruit is very clean.

Points

  • Full Crop 15.5-16 million cartons
  • National crop profile expected 27 January
  • Fruit looking good, clean
  • Sizes good, on the large side
  • Prices expected to be available 10 days before harvest
  • Next update on 27 January 2009
  • Marlon now left, reminder to not use his email address

Anticipated harvest dates

Harvest dates should follow a similar trend to last season as follows:

  • NZ Beauty 10 Feb
  • Royal Gala 17-24 Feb
  • Red Delicious 15 March
  • NZ Queen 20 March
  • Braeburn 26 March
  • NZ Rose 01 April
  • Granny Smith 10 April

We will keep you updated regularly with our fortnightly newsletter.

Don't forget that you can view our NZ Apple newsletters on our website www.nzfreshfruits.com as well as previous years.

Growers positive about season

NZ Growers are positive about the coming season. Last year was tough with our high exchange rate, which has come back over the recent months.

The NZD vs USD is currently sitting at 0.5416 today.

Globally, the impact of the economic downturn was unknown, but data showed that in the US, there had been a 3.7% drop in the restaurant trade, but people were eating at home, and this meant fruit and vegetables sales were up 10%.

The industry is optimistic that 2009 we have a good crop and the market situation will be stable.

Programs

We will be visiting NZ Growers from 19-23 January to put programs in place and secure fruit volumes.

We will have an update on the crop profile and volumes available on the 27 January.

We will then confirm requirements with customers etc, after this date.

National holidays

Please be advised that we have the following National holidays approaching.

  • 26 Jan Auckland Anniversary
  • 06 Feb Waitangi Day

We will be monitoring emails from home on these days.

Happy New Year!
Denise & Bala

Disclaimer:

Information has come from a variety of sources and is largely summary articles. References are indicated. Where opinions are expressed they are of the writer, and do not necessarily represent the New Zealand Apple Industry. Fresh Fruits Company Ltd cannot be held responsible for damages which may be incurred as a result of any person acting upon information in this publication.