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Apples and Pears New Zealand chief executive, Danielle Adsett says fruit quality this year is phenomenal.
The chief executive of Apples and Pears New Zealand, Danielle Adsett, says fruit quality this year is phenomenal and the sector is hitting crop estimates, which is great for growers.
She says having two good seasons in a row is welcome news, especially for those in Hawke's Bay where many orchards were severely damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle.
She says Hawke's Bay is bouncing back and crops are getting back up along with productivity.
But she says there are still pockers where orchards are suffering lingering effects from the cyclone, but adds that overall the district is feeling quite positive.
Adsett attributes the return of big and better crops to several factors.
She says the weather has been kinder and labour has not been the big issue it was in the past.
"We are seeing more modern orchards coming on stream or being planned like we did before covid," she told Rural News.
"These new orchards will allow new and different technologies to be deployed, but this is a long journey and something that doesn't happen overnight. We have got 11,000ha of apples and probably 40% to 50% are still in older tree systems, so that will take a while to upgrade," she says.
Adsett says that growers will always question which are the best varieties to plant.
At present, new varieties are appearing but there is still support for existing varieties with strong brands.
"There's a focus on good colour, good eating quality and good brand management to get the best price for those apples," she says.
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