File photo. Photo: 123RF
A bountiful harvest on the East Coast is expected to put new-season apples back on supermarket shelves.
New Zealand Apple and Pear chief executive Karen Morrish told Morning Report while last year's harvest was disrupted by Cyclone Gabrielle, growing conditions for this season has been "fantastic".
"In terms of Hawkes Bay and Tairāwhiti we had about 610 hectares of planted trees lost, so that's about 10 percent [of the crop in that area]...what we're looking at is a recovery phase to pre-cyclone levels so we've still got a little way to go in terms of that.
"The good news is that apple trees are exceptionally resilient, as are our growers. Growing conditions this year, nationally, have been fantastic so we're certainly looking forward to an excellent crop."
'Good taste, good colour, good crunch' - New Zealand Apple and Pear chief executive Karen Morrish
Morrish said growers have just started harvesting and will be doing so from February right through to April.
Gisborne apple grower Luke Hamlin said last year was difficult.
"It's been a tough year, we had three of our seven orchards flooded. Two of them have come back pretty okay, one of them still needs some repairs."
He said this season looked more promising.
"It's looking a lot better, we've had a pretty good run of summer. Nobody in Gisborne is complaining," Hamlin said.
"It's not going to be fixed overnight. But we sent out fruit [on Thursday] and they'll be making their way to all the supermarkets."
Hamlin said it was a relief after a difficult year.
"There's still a lot of dead trees and the orchard still has pretty big holes, but at least we can get back in and drive the tractors around," he said.
"It's a big relief to finally be back and see the fruit of our work."
Shoppers could expect to see more new season apples in the coming days, he said.
"It does take a while to get around to all the different stores, there's quite a few shelves to fill up," he said.
"But by the end of week, you should be able to get some no matter what time you go into the shop."
Morrish said customers could expect "good taste, good colour, [and] good crunch" from this season's apples.
She said royal gala apples will be the first ones to hit the supermarket shelves.