She mentioned that they were informed of insufficient apple production to last through the stormy season. Northland grower Joe Thistlethwaite, who sources his apples from Hawke’s Bay, has also faced difficulties in procuring apples. He thinks that Cyclone Gabrielle and other storms last summer have contributed to this scarcity. Data from New Zealand Apples and Pears showed that nearly half of the crop from Hawke’s Bay region's 150 apple growers was affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. However, Brydon Nisbet, Hawke’s Bay Fruit Growers Association president, attributed the apple scarcity more to the end of the season than the cyclone.

Source: New Zealand Herald January 15, 2024 13:18 UTC