After more than 20 years of research, the country’s summer fruit industry is introducing three new varieties of apricots – specifically for New Zealand orchards.
Plant & Food Research alongside Summerfruit NZ have been testing and crossbreeding the fruit to find the best of the best crop to grow here for the local and international market.
Now, scientists believe they have found not just one, but three new apricots for New Zealand's climate.
"The big difference is that they have high sweetness," principal scientist Jill Stanley said.
A report from the Horticulture Export Authority shows exports were down 70% in 2022, bringing in just $1 million to the local economy.
But now there’s excitement in the region – and a hope that the industry will receive a boost.
Ardgour Valley Orchards near Cromwell is growing 20 hectares of the new crops.
Its director, Sharon Kirk, told 1News they're a game-changer.
"The New Zealand apricot market has been shrinking internationally since the 1990s. That's why Plant and Food Research and Summerfruits New Zealand kicked into gear to breed these new apricots – to breed something that we could take to the world that's uniquely ours."
She said the new fruit has received good feedback locally.
"We did some research last year with a few [crops] that we had in Wanaka, just in the local town, and people were saying, 'are these what apricots should taste like?'"
Kirk is growing around 20 hectares of the new crop, with some available in supermarkets now. The other varieties will be ready for export early next year.
Scientists are confident the apricots will go down will overseas, particularly in the Asian market.
Stanley told 1News in a tasting study, "the standard cultivar had 35% of the consumers like them, for these two it was 87% and 79% like them, so significantly greater".
"They’re our babies so we just love them, and we just hope it will be successful."
It is success they believe will be a major turning point for the industry.
SHARE ME