Apple Bytes - New Zealand Apple Newsletter
Issue 8: 10 April 2008
Intended for Recipient Only.
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Royal Gala Airstore Finished, CA opens 28 April
- Royal Gala – air-store finished, waiting for C.A to open
- Red Delicious – air-store finished, no C.A
Royal Gala airstore stocks have finished. C.A (controlled atmosphere) rooms will open at our pack-house on 28 April. Demand for 100#, 110# and 120# stocks is still strong.
Prices for C.A will be released within the next 2 weeks.
Red Delicious has come to an end. NZ only produces a small volume of Red Delicious.
We have no C.A store stocks.
Five varieties will come through the pack-house in the next week or so – Braeburn, NZ Queen, NZ Rose, Fuji and Granny Smith Apples. Production capacity means that we must switch between sizes. Packing dates are below for each variety.
- Braeburn packing has started. Majority from 07 April
- NZ Queen is being sent to Taiwan. Prices are high and hence we have not exported to other countries as yet. Limited 110# counts, and hardly any 120#.
- NZ Rose packing started 08 April
- Fuji apples packing starts 10 April
- NZ Granny packing expected 14 April
- Royal Gala C.A Store, packing expected from 28 April to start
NZ Queen – Prices Holding highPrices opened extremely high from Taiwan market – and demand has continued. This is brilliant for our growers, but not so good for those alternate markets that may miss out on NZ Queen this year due to price. At the moment prices are not workable for other markets than Taiwan. Peak sizes around 80, 90, 100 count – not much in the small size range. Limited 110# counts and nothing below 120#. |
 2008 NZ Queen |
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The size profile of the crop looks as follows:
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Royal Gala – Controlled atmosphere stocks
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 2008 70% up Colour |
 2008 50-70% Colour |
Braeburn – Started
5.6m cartons – Starting ...
Braeburn picking started last week, with packing today in the packhouse. Colour looks good. 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.
2008 Braeburn
2008 Braeburn
NZ Fuji Apples - Started
NZ Fuji harvest has started. Colour looks good.
1,377,039 tces. Average size forecasted at 85#.
Predominantly a large size apple with peak sizes in the 70,80,90 counts. Not much below a 135# (only 2%) count this season, and nothing below a 150# (only 1%).
Packed in two colour grades. Standard grade is 50-70% colour as shown below. High grade is 70% up and is approximately USD$ 1.65 more per carton.
If you are interested please contact us for exact pricing.
2008 Fuji - High Colour 70% up
2008 Fuji - Standard Grade 50-70% colour
NZ Rose - Started
271,989 Cartons – Started
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.
2008 NZ Rose
NZ Granny – 14 April
Picking starts soon
Size Anticipated to average a 101# count.
Packed in 18kg Cartons. Last season most were smart fresh treated to enhance quality. Colour was good.
2008 NZ Granny Smith
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.