New Zealand’s high ranking as one of the world’s most self-sufficient countries is a huge source of pride for its nation’s fruit and vegetable growers, who are ramping up their fresh produce supply as global trade tensions escalate.
Scientific research recently published in Nature Food examined the domestic food production of 186 countries to determine whether they could feed their citizens and meet dietary guidelines if trade tariffs, wars, pandemics, or other crises disrupted global food supply chains.
Current global tensions have the potential to significantly disrupt global supply chains by affecting oil and gas prices and key shipping routes.
Over a third of all countries cannot meet self-sufficiency for more than two of the seven essential food groups. However, New Zealand is fully self-sufficient in five out of the seven food groups analysed.
While there may be a shortage of enough legumes, nuts, seeds, and starchy staples to meet everyone’s dietary needs, the supply of fruits and vegetables, meat, dairy, fish, and seafood is plentiful.
“New Zealand is, of course, renowned for our exceptional fresh produce, but we should never take those crops for granted. It takes considerable time, commitment and innovation to produce the fresh fruit and vegetable crops we do, and growers face ongoing challenges from extreme weather events, pests and diseases,” said United Fresh Technical Advisory Group Chair, Dr Hans Maurer.
“The fact we have ranked so highly in this Nature Food study is a good reminder of just how valuable our horticulture industry is in terms of food security, and how fortunate we are to have skilled and dedicated growers, as well as robust supply chains, in New Zealand when global trade can be so uncertain.”
United Fresh represents the country’s pan-produce sector, and according to their Fresh Facts 2024 publication, fresh fruit and vegetable exports reached NZD 4.3 billion last year, an 8 percent increase from 2023.
Those figures are only set to rise, with an industry-wide push now underway to increase horticulture production. The sector has a clear aim of doubling its farmgate return by 2036.
Horticulture New Zealand and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) launched the Aotearoa Horticulture Action Plan in 2023 in recognition of the enormous potential the horticulture industry has to contribute to New Zealand’s economy and the health of all New Zealanders.
To reach this goal, Fresh Facts analysts have identified that the horticulture industry needs to grow at a 4.81 percent CAGR between now and 2036 to achieve a final value of NZD 7.36 billion.
Dr Maurer said New Zealand’s fertile soils and favourable climate allow fresh fruit and vegetables to be grown right across the country, from Northland’s tropical citrus and avocado crops to Otago’s famed cherries and apricots in the south.
“The horticulture industry and its supply chains have not reached that position overnight, but through hard work across multiple generations of growers committed to the land. The commodity nature of fresh produce, the dependency on benign weather conditions, and the laws of supply and demand will continue to challenge industry and consumers alike,” he added.
“We will, therefore, need to maintain our journey of continued improvement to protect our enviable position, both within our fresh produce export environment and here in New Zealand.”
Consumers spent NZD 1.396 billion (excluding GST) on New Zealand-grown fruit, vegetables and mushrooms in a single year, according to Fresh Facts 2024, with fresh produce available from over 800 supermarkets, over 500 fruiters and greengrocers, more than 25 farmers’ markets and countless convenience stores and roadside stalls nationwide.
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