New standards set for NZ Apples

The New Zealand Pipfruit Industry has set new quality standards in response to concerns the quality of crop exports may have slipped following deregulation.

Pipfruit New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Peter Beaven said the new industry driven set of best practice guidelines and a 'harvest decision tree' covers production, harvest coolchain and packing.

He said: "Since deregulation there has been criticism of the grade and quality standards of export pipfruit.

"There have been claims that there has been a lowering of fruit standards and this tends to be supported by the fact that extraction rates for export are up by 10 per cent since deregulation.

"Too many marginal fruit are ending up in export cartons."

The standards are not compulsory but he said the industry was making a serious commitment to offshore customers.

"We hope that all exporters will adopt the guidelines as a minimum requirement for premium grade export fruit – it is the way of the future," Mr Beaven said.

The guidelines stress it is too late when the fruit arrives at the packhouse and that quality must begin on the tree and when growers are making their harvest decisions.

The guidelines have been developed in association with growers, post harvest operators and exporters. They are available to all members on Pipfruit New Zealand's website.

- HERALD STAFF