With a great season, Hawke's Bay fruit growers prosper
Growers are showing that confidence by continuing to plant apple trees to the point where tree nurseries can no longer keep up with the demand. A decade ago fruit growing in Hawke's Bay seemed to be on a downward spiral with hectares of trees pulled out as the returns from highly competitive export markets kept prices down and a shortage of labour made harvest difficult.
Now, with the advent of new varieties of apples, the labour shortage eased by RSE workers from the Pacific Islands and good markets in 80 countries around the world, the outlook is a lot brighter. Hawke's Bay Fruit growers' Association president Lesley Wilson said the industry had "got its act together in the last five years".
At present Asia, particularly Taiwan, takes 41 per cent of the export crop which is expected to reach as high as 50%. Thailand, China and India were all important and growing markets, he said. They preferred sweet, red varieties whereas Germany, still our biggest single market, preferred jazz, royal gala and the more-tart braeburn.
source: nzherald.co.nz
