Enviable export entrant

Otago regional manager for Enza, Jeff McDonald and Con van der Voort Packhouse manager Jackie van der Voort with Envy and Jazz apples from Central Otago which are destined for the United States, Asia and Europe. Photo by Lynda van Kempen.

The first Central Otago exports of the new variety of apple were packed at Ettrick this week and Envy is expected to be a hit with consumers overseas, Otago regional manager for Enza Ltd, Jeff McDonald said.

"It's crisp and crunchy, very sweet and large - all good attributes for export apples," Mr McDonald said.

Two growers - Southern Orchards at East Roxburgh and Fruitvale Orchard at Ettrick - provided the fruit to be exported.

The Central Otago contribution of 100 cartons was a "drop in the ocean" compared to the 4000 cartons of Envy being exported for the first time this season, he said.

"It's just being planted now in commercial volumes in this area but it'll take three or four years to get up to full production."

The new variety is a Braeburn-Royal Gala cross and its main claim to fame is that after being bitten or cut, its flesh stays white for many hours longer than other apples before turning brown.

The Envy apples were harvested more than a month ago and have been in cool storage ever since.

Each carton is likely to fetch about $30, which was a premium price, Mr McDonald said.

Jazz apples have the same parents but were tart rather than sweet and were also proving popular, with 1.2 million cartons being exported this year from New Zealand.

Like Envy, the Jazz apples are grown under licence, so volumes can be regulated, and the aim is for year-round supply.

Ettrick pipfruit grower Con van der Voort said growing under licence was a good way of controlling the volume and ensuring there was no oversupply of certain varieties on the market.

His orchard's, coolstore and packing shed is a family operation and it is one of the largest family pipfruit businesses in the country.

Mr McDonald said Jazz apples were exported to Europe and the average return for a carton was also about $30.

"Like the Envy apple, it's a big red variety. The Asian market especially likes big red apples," he said.

Central Otago had produced 560,000 cartons of export apples this season and the quality was excellent.

"The volume from this area has increased every year for the past four years and we expect that to continue."

Con van der Voort Packhouse manager Jackie van der Voort said it was the best season for many years with apple quality, size and colour all excellent.

- lynda.van.kempen@odt.co.nz