The chairman of Citrus NZ, Ian Albers, draws attention to challenges facing New Zealand citrus growers due to competition with imported citrus, primarily from Australia, coinciding with local citrus availability. About 98% of domestically grown citrus is sold within New Zealand, with limited export mainly targeting Japan and the USA.
Albers states that the current season appears manageable, noting past difficulties posed by COVID, Cyclone Gabrielle, and persistent wet weather. Following favorable spring conditions in 2024, regions like Kerikeri and Gisborne experienced conducive growth conditions. He mentions, "In the case of Gisborne, we had a good spring and then a good early summer period right through until Boxing Day. Then it was a bit cooler and wetter than what we would have liked, but overall, it wasn't too bad."
In Kerikeri, recent weather patterns offered dry conditions through summer, contrasted with the previous year's high yield. Albers remarks on the cyclical nature of citrus production, particularly referring to the satsuma mandarin crop fluctuation. The harvest begins with limes in February and March, while satsuma mandarins dominate the primary harvest.
Despite regional variances, Albers anticipates a slight increase in citrus yield over the previous year. Addressing innovation in packhouses, Albers highlights the operational hurdles due to the diversity of citrus types requiring varied packing solutions. "In the case of citrus, we have everything from grapefruit, lemons, limes, and mandarins, which all have their own idiosyncrasies in terms of packing and grading," he notes. Larger citrus-producing regions like Australia and the USA have packhouses dedicated to specific citrus types.
Source: RuralNews