Hawke’s Bay growers welcome early harvest in NZ’s apple capital

Hawke's Bay apple growers are reporting an early harvest. Pictured are apples ready for harvest on a Mt Erin Group orchard. Photo / Supplied

The apple-picking season is under way in Hawke’s Bay and a leading grower says it marks the earliest harvest he’s seen during his 30 years in the industry.

Hawke’s Bay is the apple-growing capital of New Zealand and grows about two-thirds of the country’s apples.

A warm and dry spring has translated to an early picking season this year for the tasty fruit.

Mark Ericksen, director of Mt Erin Group, a collective of apple growers in Hawke’s Bay, said the group began picking their early-ripening variety, Gem, on Monday last week.

He said that was about a week ahead of last year’s harvest, which itself was a relatively early season.

“I’ve never known a season to be as early as this,” said Ericksen, who has been growing apples in Hawke’s Bay for more than 30 years.

“It’s a beautiful crop – clean, great colour, great size, great internals.

“All in all it looks like a great apple season for Hawke’s Bay growers.”

Five containers of apples were loaded on to the Cape Serrat in Napier on Monday this week, bound for China. Photo / John Cowpland alphapix

The apple harvest will continue until April throughout Hawke’s Bay.

Mt Erin Group saw its first shipment of apples head to Asia from Napier Port last week.

Like many growers in Hawke’s Bay, Mt Erin Group was badly affected by Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023.

Ericksen said he was “really proud of what we as a group have achieved” in terms of getting back on their feet and growing well again.

Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers Association president Brydon Nisbet said this apple harvest was “the earliest I’ve seen for a long time” and “probably the best season we have had in the last five years”.

“We had a very good spring and early blossom and fruit set,” Nisbet said.

“An early season is always good for Hawke’s Bay, it means we can get our produce into the international and domestic markets early and quickly.”

He said that translated to good prices for growers.

Growers were hoping the weather stayed relatively dry in February and March for pickers, Nisbet said.

He said early-ripening apple varieties included the Gala varieties.

A Napier Port spokesman said the port had begun receiving and exporting apples from the new season.

“One of the first shipments is set to depart later today [Monday this week] on the Cape Serrat, carrying five containers of apples to China for our customer, Mr Apple,” the spokesman said.

“We look forward to volumes continuing to build as the season progresses.

“Early indications from growers suggest a strong growing season, with favourable weather conditions supporting good crop development.”

Gary Hamilton-Irvine is a Hawke’s Bay-based reporter who covers a range of news topics including business, councils, breaking news and cyclone recovery. He formerly worked at News Corp Australia.