T&G Global apple returns jump 25% on strong 2025 season
T&G Global says its 2025 New Zealand apple season has delivered higher returns for growers, reflecting strong global consumer demand and pricing across its Envy and Jazz apple brands.
Alliance Group’s Pure South Lamb and Pure South Handpicked Beef 55 Day Aged have been awarded gold medals at New Zealand’s Outstanding Food Producers Awards.
The awards celebrate Kiwis who harvest, grow and produce New Zealand’s outstanding food and drink. Entries are judges on a range of criteria including aroma, visual appearance, flavour, consistency, quality, sustainability, brand story and packaging.
Shane Kingston, general manager sales at Alliance Group, says the gold medals underline the co-operative’s reputation for food excellence and innovation.
“There is exceptional demand for Handpicked Beef, which is wet aged for 55 days – a significantly longer period than other wet aged products on the market. Our team has found that his period profoundly increases the meat’s flavour complexity, tenderness and texture.”
Kingston says Alliance’s reputation for producing some of the world’s finest lamb is well-known.
“The passion, pride and dedication of our farmers and our meticulous commitment to quality are hallmarks of Pure South Lamb. Whilst external recognition is always appreciated, this gold medal will be no surprise to our many customers around the world who seek out Pure South Lamb for its delicately flavoured eating experience, fresh aroma and leanness.”
The judges commented that Pure South Lamb was “an incredibly luxurious fine textured lamb. The little layer of fat around the rack was perfectly proportioned and made the cut. The flavour of fat was tasty and fantastic -- have not tasted better”.
According to the latest Federated Farmers banking survey, farmers are more satisfied with their bank and less under pressure, however, the sector is well short of confidence levels seen last decade.
Farmer confidence has taken a slight dip according to the final Rabobank rural confidence survey for the year.
Former Agriculture Minister and Otaki farmer Nathan Guy has been appointed New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy (SATE).
Alliance Group has commissioned a new heat pump system at its Mataura processing plant in Southland.
Fonterra has slashed another 50c off its milk price forecast as global milk flows shows no sign of easing.
Meat processors are hopeful that the additional 15% tariff on lamb exports to the US will also come off.

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