Good news for New Zealand: export growth of over 30% expected

15 Jan 2025
1306

A better harvest of cherries from Central Otago is expected to bring higher profits for growers this season.

The harvest started over a month ago, and there are still three weeks remaining.

The president of the Central Otago Fruit Growers Association, Kris Robb, stated that the quality of this season's cherries is exceptionally high.

“We’ve had mixed weather and there are some microclimates, so yields vary from orchard to orchard, but overall this season looks significantly better than the last one.

“If I had to guess, I’d say the region could produce around 5,000 more tons for export, with a growth of 30-40% compared to last season.”

According to Robb, the final count won’t be known for a few weeks.

“Better yields and strong demand in domestic and international markets mean that growers should achieve better profits.

While domestic demand began to decline, growers were ramping up exports for Chinese New Year at the end of the month.

Even Chile, one of the largest producers of cherries in the world, had an excellent harvest, with yields significantly higher than previous years.

Chile flooding international markets with cherries might lower prices, but New Zealand cherries have a competitive edge.

“Chilean cherries are shipped by sea and are a bulk product sold in supermarkets, whereas our cherries are a high-quality product sold to high-value clients, so we’re not directly competing, but we keep an eye on what they’re doing.

Tim Jones, CEO of 45 South, one of the country’s largest exporters of cherries, agrees.

“The weather has been unpredictable, so things have been a bit slow, but the next weeks will be very busy.”

Jones said the company, which owns about 250 hectares of cherries, is seeing fruit of excellent quality.

“The cherries are of great size and are crisp, as required by our export markets.”

“The export program is going very well, with over 70% of this season’s fruit destined for export, while the rest will supply the domestic market.”

Read the full article: RNZ
Image: SL Fruit Service


Cherry Times - All rights reserved

What to read next

How Drosophila suzukii larvae build a niche suited to their development

Crop protection

15 May 2025

Drosophila suzukii larvae actively modify the environment inside ripening fruits to support their development. A German study reveals surprising strategies of ecological niche construction through tunneling, microbial activity, and natural fermentation.

San José scale: a threat to nursery production even in protected environments

Nurseries

16 May 2025

A three-year study in Bulgaria shows that San Jose scale severely damages apples, cherries and plums grown both in protected and open fields. Infected propagation material significantly worsens plant quality and growth in nurseries.

In evidenza

Chile kicks off cherry season in Norte Chico with Nimba: early harvest and standout size

Varieties

20 Oct 2025

Chile’s 2025 cherry season begins in Norte Chico with Nimba cv, harvested in week 42. Over 80% of the fruit exceeds 28 mm. With high productivity and low chill requirement, it’s a strategic choice to enter early markets and optimize exports.

OPTIMISTII: the green solution to Drosophila suzukii in European cherry orchards

Crop protection

20 Oct 2025

The OPTIMISTII project, led by INRAE, offers an innovative biological approach to tackle Drosophila suzukii in European cherry orchards by combining male sterilization techniques to reduce pest reproduction and minimize the use of chemical pesticides in fruit production.

Tag Popolari