NZ Apples and Pears released an updated snapshot (first in ten years) of the importance of the country’s apple and pear industry, with regional figures for Hawke’s Bay, by far the nation’s leading pipfruit producer.
Here’s the big picture, showing HB as the sector’s star performer (all figures through 2023).
Hawke’s Bay has 7,317 hectares planted in apples and pears (about 97% apples), representing 66% of the NZ crop, producing 288 million kgs, 60% of which is exported, yielding 61% of NZ’s total apple/pear export value.
The total direct orchard revenue from that production is $490.2 million. But using economists’ magic to calculate the ‘flow-on’ effects from merely growing, picking and packing the stuff, you get this estimate of the total economic impact in HB.
In other words, nearly a $1 billion HB industry, contributing 2% of the regional GDP and 37% of the region’s agricultural GDP.
The industry boasts of its sustainability credentials. In the ten years to 2023, the industry used 70% less chemicals. And an overall 13% reduction in the carbon footprint of NZ’s export apples along the value chain of orchard, packhouse, coolstore and shipping.
When last assessed in 2018, New Zealand was ranked first out of 33 apple growing countries in an annual survey of international competitiveness, based on 23 criteria. This was the fourth year New Zealand had attained this ranking.
Over the past ten years (2013-2023), NZ’s overseas market has shifted considerably. The value of exports to the EU dropped from 37% to 6%, whereas China jumped from 2% to 21%, and South-East Asia and Taiwan went up from 21% to 35%.
A rosy ‘big picture’ of the recent ten years. But one that doesn’t tell the entire Hawke’s Bay story, with many orchardists struggling to make ends meet as they absorb cyclone-related land and crop losses, face risk-adverse banks, and wait years for new plantings to yield marketable fruit.
One veteran industry consultant who has worked with many HB players, after seeing the NZ Apples & Pears media release, commented, “I must be in another world or planet.”
Another industry insider observed: “The NZAPI release looks back and says ‘wow’. What we need are leaders that comment on the path forward and what might be needed to make that a positive one.”
Full MartinJenkins review here.
ok the the pear tree needs to thought about a bit more since its as sweet as apples &needs its juice to be sold as the choice of these trees are getting left behind. Also we need to plant more fruit trees in Waipawa to provide the choice. thanks CRAIGMORE ORCHARD for taking over Te papa.