Apples: a $1 billion industry in 2025[i] with a bold industry ambition to reach $2bn by 2035[ii]
The New Zealand apple industry supplies the world with quality fruit. 65% of New Zealand’s annual harvest volumes are exported globally to more than 80 countries.
New Zealand apples continue to be in demand across the world, due in no small part to the reputation our growers have built based on producing a high quality, sustainable, and tasty product.
The sector has seen continued consolidation, led by a smaller number of high-performing vertically integrated growers. This has driven higher fruit quality standards, longer term supply contracts, and more consistent volumes through post-harvest facilities.
Productivity improvements, and revenue growth are being driven through advances in plant breeding genetics, adoption of new technologies, changes to planting systems in the field, improvements in packing line efficiency such as product grading, processing speed, and improvements to storage practices.
In 2024, 64%[iii] of New Zealand grown apples originated in the Hawke’s Bay, where the climate and soils of the Heretaunga Plains are acknowledged as having the perfect conditions to produce some of the best apples in the world.
Rockit™ Apples
Rockit™ is a miniature apple bred by Plant & Food Research in Hawke’s Bay, which has been successfully commercialised by Rockit Global Ltd. Packaged into tubes with award winning branding, Rockit™ is sold in high value markets overseas as a premium snack food. Rockit Global Ltd has rights to the Rockit™ Apple PVR (Plant Variety Right) that can only be grown under licence. Rockit Global Ltd operates a vertically integrated business, which includes post-harvest management, global marketing, promotion, and supply rights with a Zespri-like approach to end consumer engagement. Rockit Global Ltd now has a New Zealand grower supply base of 950 canopy hectares[iv], with MyFarm investments making up 105 ha of this.
[i] Apple and pear industry hits $1 billion in revenue for the first time - New Zealand Apples & Pears
[ii] nzap-strategy-to-2035.pdf
[iii] nzap_annual-report_2024_fa_web.pdf
[iv] Rockit apples poised to catch a rebound season
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