The apple season in Hawkes Bay looks to be at least average, despite unseasonal heavy frosts in late spring.
The Port of Napier says eight million cartons of apples have gone through the port this year, compared with 10.1 million last year.
The Fruitgrowers' Association pipfruit chief, Jonathan Wiltshire, said perhaps half
a million more cartons were still to be exported.
Last year's figures needed to be seen in the context of a very good year.
The braeburn crop was the hardest hit by the frosts in September and October, and was at least 15 per cent down on an expected three million cartons.
Royal gala was better but there was a lot more smaller fruit around.
Deregulation meant growers had been able to find some markets for the poorer fruit but there was no certainty these would be long term.
Smaller fruit was harder to sell and the amount of it around would reduce prices.
Returns for bigger fruit were good, especially if growers had arranged foreign exchange cover for the higher kiwi dollar.
Braeburn prices in all markets were strong for good-sized fruit because of a belief that there was a shortage.
It has not been a good season for braeburn, as some problems with bitter pit and blotch arose in storage.
US markets that could not get royal gala were taking some braeburn, but were not interested in smaller fruit, Wiltshire said.
Prices were about on a par with last year's $23 or $24 a carton but costs were slightly up because it cost more to pick smaller fruit.
- NZPA
