Agri-food
- Agriculture, the land, environment and plant science
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- Animal science
- Food technology
- Earth science
- Horticulture
- Veterinary science
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History of horticulture
There’s been big growth in horticulture in New Zealand since the 1980s.
Believe it or not, we’ve only exported apples since the middle of the 20th century. The growth of the kiwifruit industry was even more spectacular. And avocadoes are now New Zealand third largest export crop by value.
Commercial glasshouse growing, particularly for tomatoes, has been happening in New Zealand since the 1930s and earlier. Then it was a family business handed down to the next generation. What started in wooden framed glasshouses is today hectares of state-of-the art computer-controlled glass covered growing environments.
A few families led the way in innovative greenhouse tomato cropping through PTO Growers Ltd. They introduced many commercial growing techniques including trickle irrigation, thermostat-controlled warm air, nutrient film technique and colour fruit graders. Status’ Growers travel the world to find and transfer world-best techniques to NZ growing conditions.
Before the 90′s, about 600 growers marketed their own tomatoes. Today, there are a handful of growing operations that lead the market, including Status Produce.
The demand for fresh food is relentless, with the food service sector (including restaurants, fast food, hospitals, prisons and other commercial kitchens) demanding supply 365 days a year. Glasshouses have changed dramatically in design and structure to meet these needs.
Today New Zealand produces a big range of horticultural fruits and vegetables including summer fruit, pears, olives, grapes, potatoes, onions, citrus fruit, berries and asparagus. The ‘big ‘three’ of kiwifruit, apples, and wine account for a large chunk of New Zealand’s horticultural exports, and in a global marketplace, quality and reputation of New Zealand produce counts above all else.
Consumers want to know about the story behind a product, and building the New Zealand brand needs a new generation of innovative minds who can breed, grow, export and market a slice of New Zealand to the world.
Producing great tasting fruit and vegetables that stay fresh is the future for New Zealand’s horticulture industry. Developing cultivars and technologies to achieve this requires leading knowledge and skill development.
Growth will be achieved not just through exporting more fruit, but through better cooperation between local exporters and being smart about managing our intellectual property and exporting that too.
NZ figures are freely available at freshfacts.co.nz. International horticulture figures have to be purchased at http://www.ishs.org/partners/aiph/or found in a library.
History of horticulture
There’s been big growth in horticulture in New Zealand since the 1980s.
Believe it or not, we've only exported apples since the middle of the 20th century. The growth of the kiwifruit industry was even more spectacular. And avocadoes are now New Zealand third largest export crop by value.
Commercial glasshouse growing, particularly for tomatoes, has been happening in New Zealand since the 1930s and earlier. Then it was a family business handed down to the next generation. What started in wooden framed glasshouses is today hectares of state-of-the art computer-controlled glass covered growing environments.
A few families led the way in innovative greenhouse tomato cropping through PTO Growers Ltd. They introduced many commercial growing techniques including trickle irrigation, thermostat-controlled warm air, nutrient film technique and colour fruit graders. Status’ Growers travel the world to find and transfer world-best techniques to NZ growing conditions.
Before the 90's, about 600 growers marketed their own tomatoes. Today, there are a handful of growing operations that lead the market, including Status Produce.
The demand for fresh food is relentless, with the food service sector (including restaurants, fast food, hospitals, prisons and other commercial kitchens) demanding supply 365 days a year. Glasshouses have changed dramatically in design and structure to meet these needs.
Today New Zealand produces a big range of horticultural fruits and vegetables including summer fruit, pears, olives, grapes, potatoes, onions, citrus fruit, berries and asparagus. The ‘big ‘three’ of kiwifruit, apples, and wine account for a large chunk of New Zealand’s horticultural exports, and in a global marketplace, quality and reputation of New Zealand produce counts above all else.
Consumers want to know about the story behind a product, and building the New Zealand brand needs a new generation of innovative minds who can breed, grow, export and market a slice of New Zealand to the world.
Producing great tasting fruit and vegetables that stay fresh is the future for New Zealand’s horticulture industry. Developing cultivars and technologies to achieve this requires leading knowledge and skill development.
Growth will be achieved not just through exporting more fruit, but through better cooperation between local exporters and being smart about managing our intellectual property and exporting that too.
NZ figures are freely available at freshfacts.co.nz. International horticulture figures have to be purchased at http://www.ishs.org/partners/aiph/or found in a library.