Export earnings from New Zealand's horticultural industries have doubled over the past decade to $3.4 billion, up from $2.94 billion in 2008 and $1.74 billion in 1999.The industry turned in its highest annual returns last year, with new figures showing fr
Export earnings from New Zealand's horticultural industries have doubled over the past decade to $3.4 billion, up from $2.94 billion in 2008 and $1.74 billion in 1999.
The industry turned in its highest annual returns last year, with new figures showing fruit, vegetables, wine and flowers were worth $6 billion in the domestic and export markets to June 30 last year, up by about $470 million on 2008.
A standout crop during that decade was kiwifruit _which jumped from less than half a billion ($478 million) in 1999 to $1.07 billion after the Kiwifruit Export Regulations sought by growers introduced single desk exporting outside Australia.
The value of kiwifruit exports lifted by 23.1% in the year to June 2009, Plant and Food Research said.
Before 1999, numerous exporters were undercutting each other in overseas markets, and growers voted to regulate the sendings.
An industry critic, Turners & Growers, has claimed the 1999 reforms were only intended to be an interim measure, though the then National-led government's food and fibre minister John Luxton conceded at the time that a single kiwifruit marketing desk should continue "without a sunset clause."
Another key performer has been wine exports, which increased in value by 24% in the year to June 2009, and were up from $126 million in 1999 to $985 million.
Fresh fruit remained the nation's largest horticultural export sector, with revenues of $1.58 billion -- up 18.2% on 2008 -- mostly from kiwifruit and apples ($396 million).
Fresh vegetable exports fell slightly against 2008, mainly because fresh onion exports fell back after a big increase the previous year.
Processed vegetables increased by $19.3 million (6.1%) overall in 2009, with frozen potato exports up $17.3 million (27.2%) and dried vegetables up $16.0 million (37.5%) offsetting decreases in other processed vegetables.
Plant and Food Research chief operating officer Bruce Campbell said the gains seen over recent years were due to improvements in skills, systems and technology almost every facet of horticulture.
"New varieties of fruit, vegetables and flowers, as well as improvements in sustainable production systems, harvesting methods, handling, packaging, storage and transport technologies, and export marketing have all added value to the industry," he said.
