Taiwan remains top export market for New Zealand cherries(source: Dominion Post)

Taiwan remains top export market for New Zealand cherries(source: Dominion Post)

Organization: Department of International Cooperation Publish Date: 2017-01-23 15:56

Taiwan continues to rank as the top export destination for cherries grown in New Zealand, according to a report published in the Wellington daily the Dominion Post Jan. 20, 2017.

Taiwan and mainland China, which has grown in recent years to become the second largest export market, take about 60 percent of New Zealand cherry exports, which amounted to roughly US$31 million in 2016.

Total exports of New Zealand cherries are expected to surpass US$36 million during the current season, marking an increase of more than US$5 million over the previous year's figure, due to rapidly rising demand in Taiwan, mainland China and other Asian markets, according a representative of New Zealand fruit growers.

The cherry harvest is so lucrative that producers in parts of New Zealand have in recent days been renting helicopters to fly low over their fields in order to dry off raindrops and protect their valuable crop, the Dominion Post reported.