The export season for New Zealand top fruit started back in April with Cox, Gala, Braeburn and Pink Lady for exporter Golden Bay Fruit, based in Montueka on New Zealand’s South Island. Overall volumes from New Zealand were down by 15% this season, Golden Bay Fruit suffered from the biggest hail storm in decades which affected the export volumes.
“This did not affect any market in particular,” explains Partick Meikle, Global Commercial Manager at the company. “Certain varieties go to certain markets, so it didn’t change the mix of varieties exported.”
Logistics has also been very challenging this season with the global shortage of containers, unreliable transit times which sometimes proved to be three times longer than expected, delays in loading and unloading at various ports and the shortage of HGV drivers in the UK has made getting fruit to the packers challenging.
Golden Bay Fruit are known for their many IP varieties including Dazzle™, Cherish™, Miranda apples and the Piqa™Boo™ pear. This year after the devastating hail storm the company introduced a new brand ‘Stormy Fruit’. This is good quality fruit but with some imperfections on the skin caused by nature, such as wind, rain or hail.
Golden Bay Fruit are in the final selection for the Good Food Award in the Sustainable Business Awards for the Stormy Fruit brand.
Europe and UK
“The EU and UK markets have been quite strong this season with less Braeburn and Pinks available. New Zealand exporters always try to complement the European season, due to all the logistical problems we had to start planning earlier than usual.”
Brexit has not really affected Golden Bay’s supply to the UK as they ship most of the fruit directly to this market, although it has been more difficult when fruit had to be brought in from Europe said Patrick. The possible trade deal between New Zealand and the UK may mean an easing of duties in the future but that remains to be determined.
Supply to the EU and UK markets will continue until November with Pink Lady, October with Braeburn, Galas will end in couple of weeks.
Asia
“China has been a more stable market as they managed Covid very well, but some of the SE Asian wholesale markets closed due to lockdowns. Cherish and Dazzle are doing well in Asia while PiqaBoo continues to do exceptionally well in China. We will also be launching two new varieties very soon and ramping up Miranda volumes,” said Patrick.
For more information:
Patrick Meikle
Golden Bay Fruit
[email protected]
www.goldenbayfruit.com
