The ship Seasmile leaves Napier Port this morning (21 April 2021) with containers of New Zealand grown Envy™ on board. The Seasmile is heading for Sihanookville (Cambodia), Port Klang (Malaysia), Laem Chabang (Thailand), Singapore, Ho Chi Ming and Cat Lai (Vietnam) and Manila in the Philippines.
It’s full steam ahead for exports of T&G Global’s internationally popular, premium Envy™ apple this week, with five vessels carrying 28,000 cartons (518 tonnes) of Envy™ departing the Napier Port for China and South East Asian markets.
T&G’s Director of Operations, Craig Betty, says the company expects to export a high-quality crop of Envy™ apples to consumers around the world this year, despite severe labour challenges, tight shipping schedules and a global container shortage.
“Our orchard and post-harvest teams are pulling out all the stops to pick and pack our Envy™ crop this season,” he says.
“We’ve had University students pitching in and working alongside our local seasonal team and Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers. In addition, 45 of our office-based team, known as the “Envy™ Army” are working part-time shifts at our Hawke’s Bay packhouses to ensure our premium Envy™ apples get to consumers in key global markets.”
During the course of the New Zealand export season, T&G will ship approximately two million cartons (200 million apples) of New Zealand grown Envy™ to consumers in 60 countries, reflecting the brand’s strong demand in global markets, especially in Asia and the United States.
This week marks the beginning of a busy shipping schedule for T&G’s 2021 apple crop, which over the coming weeks will depart from both Napier and Nelson Ports. Last week, T&G also air freighted Envy™ to China and Malaysia in time for new season retail programmes.
This year, T&G and its partner growers across the world will grow, pack and sell a total of 5.5 million cartons of Envy™ globally. As demand grows for Envy™, the company is stepping up plantings in both hemispheres to meet increasing consumer demand. New Envy™ plantings over the coming years will produce another 10 million cartons by 2030.
Craig says the quality and colour of Envy™ apples are exceptional this season with 70% of the crop harvested.
“As our mornings get cooler in New Zealand, we’re seeing a strong and vibrant colour coming through and a high proportion of high-grade fruit being packed.”
Envy™ apples will start arriving in international markets in late April.
