2024–25 apple harvest exceeds expectations, says Apples and Pears NZ CEO
The 2024-25 season apple harvest has “well and truly exceeded expectations”, says Apples and Pears NZ chief executive Karen Morrish.
Gaining momentum from the global roll-out of its new brand in July, NZ fruit company Rockit has recently launched its biggest sales and marketing campaign.
From mainland China to the Middle East, Rockit says it is driving its back-to-school campaign into thousands of stores and homes in its key global markets, promoting the nutritional and health benefits of choosing Rockit as children head back to the classroom.
Julian Smith, general manager global marketing for Rockit Global, says Rockit - which is sold in 30 countries worldwide - is currently in the midst of a very sharp growth curve across its international markets with volume up 43% on 2020 figures. He says the back-to-school campaign uses multiple platforms and touchpoints to establish the fully mature, miniature apple as the right healthy snack for kids to fuel their day.
"This is the first time we've launched a global marketing campaign of this size and calibre into some of our most exciting markets like the UAE, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Saudi Arabia."
He says consumers will be able to access a new interactive campaign microsite featuring downloadable activities, competitions and giveaways, as well as creative ideas to get everyone from kids to adults moving.
"Importantly, we're ramping up our social media and digital marketing in our key back-to-school markets with influencer content and collaborations, and delivering that content in traditional and simplified Chinese, and Arabic."
Smith says the campagin is another step in Rockit's journey towards sharing 400 million of its snack-sized apples with the world by 2025.
Legal controls on the movement of fruits and vegetables are now in place in Auckland’s Mt Roskill suburb, says Biosecurity New Zealand Commissioner North Mike Inglis.
Arable growers worried that some weeds in their crops may have developed herbicide resistance can now get the suspected plants tested for free.
Fruit growers and exporters are worried following the discovery of a male Queensland fruit fly in Auckland this week.
Dairy prices have jumped in the overnight Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction, breaking a five-month negative streak.
Alliance Group chief executive Willie Wiese is leaving the company after three years in the role.
A booklet produced in 2025 by the Rotoiti 15 trust, Department of Conservation and Scion – now part of the Bioeconomy Science Institute – aims to help people identify insect pests and diseases.

OPINION: The release of the Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill to replace the Resource Management Act is a red-letter day…
OPINION: Federated Farmers has launched a new campaign, swapping ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ for ‘The Twelve Pests of Christmas’ to…