Dry weather set to deliver bumper asparagus crop Dry weather might be the scourge of many crops but for Aussie asparagus growers it could mean one of the best crops in years. Australian Asparagus Council president, Alex Motta, said this year’s crop is on track to be one of the best, with the good year of preparation… Read more »
The New Zealand apple industry has set its sights on topping the $1billion mark for exports by 2022. The industry has been ranked in the World Apple Report as the world’s most competitive performing country for apple production. This comes as the sector reported its highest harvest on record for the 2015 season, yielding 550,000… Read more »
California’s apple growers are in the midst of the harvest season right now. Alex Ott, executive director of the Clovis-based California Apple Commission, expects a 3% increase in production across the country. “California is the fifth largest producer of apples in the United States,” Ott explained. “We are the third largest exporter of apples… Read more »
This year, weather depending, Washington is predicting a good apple season. According to Rebecca Lyons, International Marketing Director at the Washington Apple Commission, if the weather does not get any warmer before the beginning of this year’s harvest, Washington should yield the expected 168 million cartons of apples (fresh and processed), which will represent 64… Read more »
A recent agricultural commodity report shows that although the Australian cherry industry is relatively small, it has grown strongly, and the export outlook for Tasmanian cherries is promising. The quarterly Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences report shows the average export price of Tasmanian cherries was about $17.34/kg in 2014-2015, compared with… Read more »
According to Freshlogic managing director Martin Kneebone, opportunities exist within the snacking sector for the fresh produce industry. At the 2016 National Horticulture Convention on the Gold Coast last Friday 24 June, Kneebone presented data and perspectives on consumer snacking trends. Mr Kneebone said there has been a shift in thinking, particularly in younger generations,… Read more »
For the first time, 18 tonnes of Banganapalli, Kesar and Alphonso mangoes started a voyage to the United States on Friday by sea, from the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust here. The consignment is likely to reach New York port in 22 days from where it will be distributed. Mangoes were earlier shipped only by air… Read more »
Horticulture Innovation Australia has been awarded a $5 million grant to help increase Australia’s nut production capacity. The Rural Research and Development for Profit program funding complements a further $9.8 million from Hort Innovation, the Almond Board of Australia and the South Australian, Victoria and NSW governments. The funding will facilitate a four-year program that… Read more »
South Australia’s export performance is being questioned as key markets, such as China and India decline, yet agricultural exports are helping South Australia’s overall export performance, as they continue to be the mainstay of the economy. China continues to act as a drag on South Australia’s export performance with shipments to the key market down… Read more »
Australia’s dollar headed for its biggest gain in seven weeks after a government report showed exports added more to the economy in the first quarter than analysts forecast. The Aussie was the best performer among the U.S. currency’s 16 major counterparts after the statistics bureau said net exports contributed 1.1 percentage points to gross domestic product,… Read more »
The country has posted a trade surplus for April as the fall in dairy prices was offset by a boost in fruit and timber exports. Official figures show exports exceeded imports by $292 million last month. Exports rose 4 percent to $4.3b, led by fruit such as golden kiwifruit and apples, and higher prices for… Read more »
CHINESE consumers are closer to wiping more Australian nectarine juice from their chins after the introduction of new import protocols by both countries. But a substantial amount of work needs to be done before that scenario materialises. From January 1, 2017, Australian nectarines will face a reduced tariff of 4 per cent in China, down… Read more »
Fruit exports helped peg back declines in the value of dairy exports for April and delivered a trade surplus of $292 million for the month, the fourth consecutive monthly surplus. The annual trade deficit drew back from $3.8billion in March to $3.7billion for April, data from Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) showed yesterday. Both exports and… Read more »
Exports of a wide range of farm products such as rice, wheat, guargum, vegetables, dairy items and sesame seeds fell sharply in 2015-16 as agriculture shipments declined by a whopping 19.56 per cent to $24.24 billion compared to a 15.57 per cent overall decrease in goods exports. Worried about the decline in farm income, policy… Read more »
After Scales Corp (NZX: SCL) kicked off, T&G Global (NZX: TUR) and Seeka Kiwifruit Industries (NZX: SEK) have also put in solid profit performances for 2015. On friday, T&G announced its operating profit was up 52% for the year at NZ$30.2 million – thanks in large part to its pipfruit division – while kiwifruit orchard recovery and… Read more »
THE peak body for rice growers has called for bio security protocols with China to be signed, to give Australian growers access to the lucrative market. Rice growers Association of Australia executive director Andrew Bomm said a lack of bio security protocols meant exporting rice to China was at a stalemate. Bio security protocols are… Read more »
AS COLES and Woolworths battle it out for their market share and the price of fresh produce gets cheaper and cheaper, consumers are cheering. But if you knew the true value of that piece of fruit, would you pay more? Graeme Butler is a sixth generation farmer who owns Butler Orchards in rural Victoria, that… Read more »
New Zealand is preparing for another record apple season, with predictions of increased yields, high quality fruit and growing market demand. Mr Apple Production Manager Robert Sykes says good weather in the Hawkes Bay region has made for strong growing conditions that promise a great harvest in a few weeks time. “We came off a… Read more »
