Apple Bytes - New Zealand Apple Newsletter
Issue 6: 14 March 2008
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Royal Gala is now 99% picked and due to finish this week
- Steady exports, colour and quality good
- We are over half way in exports for Royal Gala
Royal Gala picking will finish this week. We are now over half way in exports for Royal Gala. Exports are steady. Sizes continue to sit around $115-122 count size. This is causing tight supply for 100#, 110# and 120# counts in standard grade. Supply is easier for 110#, 110#, 120# in high colour.
(Standard grade is 50-70% colour / High grade is 70% up colour).
Sizes 135# and 150# counts have no problem.
Airstore packing at this stage is expected to run through until early April with our growers – with C.A store, SmartFresh expected to open in May at this stage.
Volumes for Royal Gala look to be running slightly under the crop estimate of 5.6m cartons by 10-15%.
Easter break will run between 21-24 March. Two varieties - NZ Queen and Braeburn are expected to start harvest after these dates. As normal, expect 7-10 days between harvest and packing, as pack-houses work to switch over between Royal Gala, NZ Queen and Braeburn.
Rising exchange rate continues...
No relief from the FX rate, it continues to yo-yo between 0.79 and 0.82. It had a few dips last week, but the NZD$ vs USD$ continues to sit at high levels, caused by the strong NZ dollar against the weakening USD. The US continues to inflate our exchange rate and by doing so, making our USD$ price for NZ Apples more than last year. We are trying to absorb this as much as possible without adversely affecting growers. Meanwhile orders are flowing steady without any fuss.
Small sizes – high prices steady – no change
High prices for small sizes 165-216# continue and there has been no movement on prices. Less than 1% of the crop is 165# count or smaller. Strong demand from Pacific Island Nations has resulted in high prices and sustainable returns for these small sizes. It is expected that this market will take the majority of small sizes, with some left for piece by piece markets.
Red Delicious – Prices released
Prices were released this week for Red Delicious in 18kg and 20kg cartons.
The Red Delicious harvest was looking to start approx 10 days late, but seems to have pulled back – and will be a traditional season starting around the 14 March.
Colour is looking good – shape in the North Island continues to be the traditional Hawkes Bay rounded shape. Average size expected to sit around 100# count.
We will be packing in 18kg and 20kg for Red Delicious only. Prices will be available at the end of this week.
New Zealand only products a small amount of Red Delicious. Red Delicious volumes are expected to be slightly less this season under 170,000 trays.
NZ Beauty – Finished
Royal Gala:
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 2008 70% up Colour |
 2008 50-70% Colour |
 2008 Difference between 70% up |
 and / 50-70% colour |
Red Delicious – 15 March:
Volumes expected to be slightly less to last year with under 170,000 tces. Red Delicious expected to harvest around the 15 th March. New Zealand only produces a small amount of Red Delicious.
Red Delicious was packed last season in 18kg for sizes 70,80,90 – and 20kg for sizes 100, 110,120,125.
There is strong demand from domestic market for Red Delicious. Last year most of our Red Delicious went to local market due to high prices. We will only have approximately 8 containers of Red Delicious allocated to export.
2007 Red Delicious
NZ Queen – 20 March:
Volume slightly Up 3.9%
Won't look to start until after Easter – after 25 th March for Picking. Allow 10 days to pick and pack. Volumes up on last year. Looked to be late, but latest indications are that it will be a normal season. A little russet expected, colour fantastic - around 70%.
NZ Queen – harvest around 20 March. This variety accounts for 2-3% of the total crop. Some russet is expected on this year's crop, caused by the frost in December. Not much under 120# count – most of the small fruit was bagged and kept for local supermarkets.
2007 NZ Queen
Braeburn – 26 March:
5.6m cartons
Won't look to start until after Easter.
Braeburn generally starts around the 26 th March.
Approximately 10% will be allocated to C.A which will open early June. Volumes down due to frost – by 20% in the Hawkes Bay Region.
Average size forecast around a 105# count.
2007 Braeburn
NZ Rose – 01 April:
271,989 Cartons
So far NZ Rose looks to be clean, and colour good.
Size anticipated to average a 84# count and will be harvested in early April.
This season colour expected to average 60-70% at picking.
Size will average around 90# count. Hardly anything below a 120# count.
Packed in 18kg carton. Good volumes, but no over-supply, as local market will pick up any spare fruit.
2007 NZ Rose
NZ Granny –10 April:
Size Anticipated to average a 101# count.
Packed in 18kg Cartons. Last season most were smart fresh treated to enhance quality. Colour was good.
Average size approximately 100# count. Strong demand from USA for large counts 70,80,90. Smalls will be bagged from size #120 and down for local supermarkets.
2007 Granny Smith
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| 2008 Reg Gala in Packhouse | Heat Treated Pallets | Apples entering packhouse |
Best Regards,
Denise
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.