Tuesday, 07 September 2021 09:25

NZ potato sector flourishes

Written by  Staff Reporters
Potatoes New Zealand says the total value of the NZ potato industry now sits at $1.16 billion. Potatoes New Zealand says the total value of the NZ potato industry now sits at $1.16 billion.

New Zealand's potato sector remains a billion dollar plus industry despite a year of crises.

Potatoes New Zealand says the total value of the NZ potato industry now sits at $1.16 billion, a 58% growth rate since targets were set in 2013.

Chief executive Chris Claridge says this result shows the immense value of the local processing sector.

“Fifty-five percent of our locally grown potatoes produce fries and another 12% produce crisps. A strong domestic market for NZ processed potatoes underpins our industry and maintains our growers’ resilience.”

However, the sector is disappointed by the findings of a Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) tariff report. Claridge says the conclusions of the MBIE Final Report into European Dumping are “very disappointing” for growers and the Potatoes NZ board.

MBIE found the confirmed dumping of imported potato fries into the NZ market as not of material threat to the local industry.

Claridge says this signals to NZ importers and EU exporters that the NZ Government is leaving the gate open.

“The obvious risk here is a real material threat to our domestic potato processing market and our growers,” he says.

NZ Potato Industry Fast Facts:

  • The NZ potato industry value is over $1 billion dollars per annum
  • NZ processed potatoes account for 67% of NZ potato industry value
  • Currently 85% of all fries eaten in NZ are NZ fries
  • 15% of fries consumed in NZ are imported

More like this

Spud growers seek fair returns

Regulation changes, future proofing the industry and ensuring fair returns are some of the challenges facing potato growers, according to Potatoes New Zealand chief executive Kate Trufitt.

Featured

NZ household food waste falls again

Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.

Editorial: No joking matter

OPINION: Sir Lockwood Smith has clearly and succinctly defined what academic freedom is all about, the boundaries around it and the responsibility that goes with this privilege.

DairyNZ plantain trials cut nitrate leaching by 26%

DairyNZ says its plantain programme continues to deliver promising results, with new data confirming that modest levels of plantain in pastures reduce nitrogen leaching, offering farmers a practical, science-backed tool to meet environmental goals.

National

Machinery & Products

Yamaha acquires Robotics Plus

New Zealand based company Robotics Plus, a specialist in agricultural automation, has announced an agreement for it to be acquired…

Ecorobotix announces NZ dealership

Swiss-based Ecorobotix has announced its entry into the New Zealand market through a strategic partnership with Canterbury-based New Zealand Tractors.

Sorting unwashed potatoes made easy

Downs, a leader in potato reception, automated sorting, and storage, has introduced its new high-throughput optical sorter for unwashed potatoes…

Jumbo X saves time and money

A winner of a prestigious ‘Technical Innovations 2024’ award by FederUnacoma at the EIMA show in Italy, the Maschio Jumbo…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

A step too far

OPINION: For years, the ironically named Dr Mike Joy has used his position at Victoria University to wage an activist-style…

Save us from SAFE

OPINION: A mate of yours truly has had an absolute gutsful of the activist group SAFE.

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter