New Zealand’s apple industry has again been named the world’s most competitive performer. The World Apple Report ranks New Zealand first over 33 major apple producing countries.
The $700 million dollar industry is on track to become a billion-dollar industry by 2022.
Pipfruit New Zealand chief executive Alan Pollard says it is a great achievement to have a competitive edge and to hold onto the position.
“We’ve had a fantastic harvest. The size and quality of fruit are outstanding, and we have produced another record earning export crop,” says Pollard.
“We are now well ahead of realising our goal to become a billion dollar industry by 2022,” says Pollard.
“Our provinces are prospering; we are growing hundreds of full-time jobs across the sector in all areas including production, post harvest, logistics, marketing, and exports,” he says.
The international ranking depends not just on orchard systems, but on the supporting supply and marketing infrastructure, and the broader economic and political environment in which it operates.
The three areas of comparative performance include production efficiency, industry support and inputs, and financial and market factors.
New Zealand was in the top five for all categories, and first overall, ahead of Chile and the United States, which had slipped from second to third place.
The World Apple Report says New Zealand was focusing on new, or exclusive apple varieties that earned a substantial price premium in many international markets.
Because its total exports are small relative to total world supplies, New Zealand shipments do not burden any single market, says the report.
