Confidence in the future of blueberries as a crop is expected to lead to sector expansion in the coming years, according to Blueberries New Zealand. There are about 100 blueberry growers in the country, with the crop primarily grown in Waikato and Hawke's Bay, and some cultivation in Northland, Wellington, and Nelson.
In the 2023/2024 season, New Zealand produced about 4,000 tonnes of blueberries on 1,000 hectares. While this year's harvest totals are not yet known, as the crop is now grown year-round, approximately three-quarters of the production is consumed locally, and about 1,000 tonnes are exported to Australia.
In October 2022, a late frost devastated more than 90 percent of the Waikato crop, leaving growers reeling. However, production in the past two seasons has been strong. Blueberries New Zealand chair Kelvin Bezuidenhout noted that winter and spring 2024 were warm and dry, resulting in an early harvest, and it has been a steady season in terms of volume and price for the local market fruit.
Exports to Australia have also been positive, providing buoyancy to the sector, which is now considering increased plantings.
Read more at RNZ