New Zealand apples

There is a new USDA FAS report on New Zealand apples. Find it here. There are observations on crop size, codling moth, attempts to export to Australia and Japan, labor shortages and the growing importance of food miles.

Excerpts:

New Zealand’s apple harvest for 2007 is estimated to increase 6 percent to 465,000 tons. Exports are estimated to increase 9 percent to 290,000 tons. As forecast in post’s earlier report (NZ6026), New Zealand’s main apple growing areas have experienced conditions conductive to good fruit growth. Spring conditions were mixed, but positive overall, resulting in large fruit sizing and high fruit numbers.

Taiwan Suspends Imports of New Zealand Apples
The detection in Taiwan of a codling moth larva in apples from New Zealand in April caused Taiwan to suspend imports from New Zealand. 1029 boxes of apples (18 kgs each) were returned to New Zealand. Shipments in transit to Taiwan at the time of the detection were allowed to continue, but new shipments were halted. New Zealand is currently responding to questions from Taiwan and it is unknown when Taiwan will agree to the resumption of New Zealand’s exports. New Zealand exported over U.S.$ 13 million of apples to Taiwan in 2006, which accounted for 6 percent of New Zealand’s total apple exports by value.

Food Miles
An issue affecting all New Zealand food exporters is food miles. At present it is a minor issue for New Zealand’s apple industry, but one that is increasing in profile. According to the New Zealand Government and media sources, food miles is a concept that is gaining strength in Europe. Proponents of food miles argue that European consumers should not purchase food products from countries such as New Zealand because of the energy and carbon dioxide emissions associated with transporting food over a long distance. Instead, proponents recommend that consumers purchase locally grown produce. A study by Lincoln University in New Zealand found the arguments made by food miles proponents misleading. The study found that the energy used in producing and transporting a New Zealand food product is, in most cases, less than that of its UK counterpart, by the time it reaches point of sale in the United Kingdom. The study assessed the energy used in producing and transporting onions, apples, lamb, and dairy products to the United Kingdom. In the case of apples, the energy used by the time apples reach the point of sale in the United Kingdom is less for New Zealand apples than UK produced apples.
The Lincoln researchers claim that the food miles concept is too simplistic to assess environmental impact, as it does not take into account the total energy used in producing and transporting food products. The New Zealand Government has moved rapidly to refute some claims made by proponents of food miles, expressing concern that environmental barriers, such as food miles, may be used as non-tariff barriers against New Zealand imports in some countries in the future. Many analysts state that campaigns such as food miles further emphasize the need for New Zealand to be able to show that its farming practices are environmentally friendly and sustainable.