New Zealand’s horticultural production has exceeded $7 billion for the first time, according to the latest edition of the industry statistics publication Fresh Facts.
In the year to June 2014, produce from New Zealand’s horticultural industries was calculated to reach $7.16 billion, with exports of close to $4 billion. Wine is the largest horticultural export, valued at $1.3 billion, with kiwifruit the largest fresh fruit export, valued at $930 million. Apple exports exceeded $500 million for the first time, with more than 20% (by weight) being New Zealand-bred cultivars such as Jazz™ and Envy™.
In addition to the success of New Zealand’s crops, record numbers are now being trained in horticultural fields - with the Primary Industries Training Organisation reporting a 58% increase in trainees to 7,449 in 2014 - and investment in horticulture, both on and off-farm, calculated to be in excess of $36.5 billion.
“New Zealand’s horticultural land is highly productive, with the value of horticultural exports equating to more than three times the comparative return achieved by dairy merchandise exports,” says Peter Silcock, CEO of Horticulture New Zealand. “The horticulture industry focuses on efficiency and providing products for high value markets, such as Asia. We are confident that the success of the industry will continue and that we will reach our target of $10 billion of production by 2020.”
“New Zealand’s success continues to be the result of hard work and a keen understanding of our markets,” says Peter Landon-Lane, CEO of Plant & Food Research. “Science and innovation are employed throughout the value chain, allowing our sectors to deliver produce that commands a premium, meets increasingly stringent phytosanitary and sustainability requirements, and offers safe, convenient, high quality food for discerning consumers.”
Key facts
- Horticultural produce is valued at $7.16 billion (year to 30 June 2014), including $3.9 billion of exports.
- The largest horticulture export categories are wine ($1.3 billion), kiwifruit ($930 million), apple ($536 million), frozen potato ($105 million) and avocado ($93 million).
- Top export destinations are Australia, USA, Japan, UK, Europe, and China.
- Asian destinations receive 30% (by value) of New Zealand’s horticultural exports.
- Horticulture exports are valued at $3.9 billion from 123,000 hectares of land, versus dairy exports of $16.9 billion from 1.7 million hectares.
For more information, visit www.hortnx.co.nz