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

Big return on a small investment

Managing director of Woolover Ltd, David Brown, has put a lot of effort into verifying what seems intuitive, that keeping newborn stock's core temperature stable pays dividends by helping them realise their full genetic potential.

Editorial: Sensible move

OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.

National

NZ growers lead freshwater compliance

Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) says that commercial fruit and vegetable growers are getting ahead of freshwater farm plan regulations through…

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

Overbearing?

OPINION: Dust ups between rural media and PR types aren't unheard of but also aren't common, given part of the…

Foot-in-mouth

OPINION: The Hound hears from his canine pals in Southland that an individual's derogatory remarks on social media have left…

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter