Fresh Facts has highlighted some of the impacts Cyclone Gabrielle had on the sector this year. The Fresh Facts 2023 report on fruit and vegetable production also identifies some shifts in planting patterns in New Zealand. Land put into processed potatoes has dropped 20% to 3902ha, while the area committed to table potato production has lifted from 3000ha to 3600ha in the past year. Over the past five years, however, total potato production has dropped by almost 2000ha and 108,000t of produce.
The report notes Gabrielle had a material impact on 45% of Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne apple orchards in February at a critical time prior to harvest. However, in Hawke’s Bay, this left 4400ha, or 53%, not affected and able to be picked, packed, and exported successfully.
Other key growing regions, including Waikato, Canterbury, and Nelson-Marlborough, were left untouched by the weather event.
Gabrielle hit the apple sector after a period of exceptional growth, where the area planted had been increasing at a rate of 3.5% a year between 2012 and 2020 and growing in value by 12.5% a year.
Source: farmersweekly.co.nz