The 2025 apple harvest is done and dusted at Willowford Alma Alta Orchard, the season has been very positive. Phil and Kirsty Greer grow apples on 30 hectares in Hawks Bay New Zealand, they grow Royal Gala, Jazz and Envy apples.
"We were part of the first commercial planting of the Envy apple around 15 years ago and have been growing Jazz for around 25 years," said Phill. "We have done quite a bit of supermarket tasting of the Envy and have seen how it changes people's idea of what they like."
The couple export all of the class I apples, which is around 80-85% of the crop, the rest goes for juicing. The main export markets for Envy are Taiwan, China, Japan, Vietnam and Thailand, UAE and India are becoming more important markets for it too. Jazz remains popular in the UK and is becoming more popular in Japan.
It has been a tough few years for New Zealand growers and many were badly by Cyclone Gabrielle which hit just before the apple harvest in 2023.
Phil and Kirsty were particularly badly hit; the orchards, shed, and house were all flooded. "We have bounced back now, though, and the tree roots have recovered," said Kirsty. "This business is not for the faint-hearted."
This year's harvest is earliest that they can remember, "We started in February and were done by 10th of April, normally we go until the end of the month."
Phil said that demand for Jazz and Envy has been very good, "Jazz has had its issues over the years and it has been difficult to make a profit off it, but a lot of trees have been pulled out and demand is now much better and having Japan as a premium market has also helped. With the Envy, we have targeted growing big, red apples with early and aggressive thinning. We get size 60s while the average size is 70, which makes a big difference in the returns we get."
Phil and Kirsty are not looking to grow new varieties; in fact, they are looking forward to retirement. "Envy needs a bit more grower input than other varieties, and it needs to be stored properly. But if you get it right, it is the best apple in the world," says Phil.
For more information:
Phil and Kirsty Greer
Willowford Alma Alta Orchard
[email protected]