Central Otago’s export apricot crop is down on last year's. Central Otago’s export apricot crop has been confirmed as 20% down on last year due to a cooler spring and summer rain. Summerfruit New Zealand chief executive officer Marie Dawkins said 830 tonnes of apricots were exported from New Zealand during summer, down from 1052 tonnes the summer before. Ettrick orchardist and former Summerfruit chairman Gary Bennetts said the lower yield was because of a cooler spring and January rain throughout Central Otago. There were 8.8 tonnes of nectarines exported during the 2016-17 summer (11.8 last summer); 25 tonnes of peaches (76); and 54 tonnes of plums (60.4).

Source: Otago Daily Times April 20, 2017 19:18 UTC