Cathay Pacific is operating summer services to Christchurch. Photo / Supplied
Cathay Pacific is operating summer services to Christchurch. Photo / Supplied
After months of planning that began in the depths of winter, thousands of tonnes of sun-ripened cherries are heading to lucrative markets in Asia.
Last season about 3800 tonnes of the fruit, grown mainly in Central Otago, was sold in Asia.
In the 2022-23 season, exports tipped $110 million accordingto the Summerfruit NZ Product Group and one of the country’s leading exporters says this summer’s crop is a good size and of great quality.
Cathay Pacific is one of the biggest shippers of the fruit for exporter 45 South.
The Cromwell-based company produces more than 30% of New Zealand’s export cherries, which are marketed throughout Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, UAE, the US and Canada, and sold locally through Foodstuffs supermarkets.
The airline and 45 South describe their operation as a well-choreographed waltz that gets the fruit from the tree to the point of sale overseas within 48 hours on average.
Planning starts nine months in advance to ensure a smooth operation during the brief harvesting season, which runs from early December to early February. The summer rush starts around January 5 to get cherries to customers for Chinese New Year.
Richard Cameron, 45 South’s sales and marketing manager, says up to 60 tonnes a day will be processed in the middle of January.
The firm uses high-tech graders that utilise high-speed cameras and AI technology to grade out defects.
Every piece of fruit would have at least six photos taken during this process, all happening in the blink of an eye.
Cathay Pacific carries more than 40% of its total export volume through its seasonal Christchurch operation. The airline is flying four times a week to Hong Kong over summer.
“At this stage, we have set a moderate crop that will have good size and great quality,” says Cameron.
It's the peak season for cherry exports. Photo / Duncan Brown
The short harvesting season requires flexibility and adaptability, as growers must respond to changing climatic conditions and exporters to the constantly changing market conditions.
The airline and 45 South have been partners for more than 20 years.
Cherries are harvested at peak ripeness, which occurs in a short window for each variety. There are more than 10 export varieties and they mature at different times.
Post-harvest, cherries are chilled to an optimal temperature before dispatching to the airport and the cool-storage chain through the entire process is crucial. They are taken by truck to Christchurch and Auckland. The packed cherries are loaded on to airway pallets at the freight forwarder in Christchurch or Auckland and prepared for shipment.
Cathay Fresh, part of the airline’s cargo arm, provides cold-chain management for perishable shipments.
The airline’s cargo boss in New Zealand, Dennis Basten, says the fruit is transported in the bellies of Airbus A350 planes operating from Hong Kong. Once there, the pallets are either stored in the airline’s massive cool store at the airport or if the time between flights is short, they can be loaded into a connecting plane in a “tail-to-tail” transfer.
The cargo holds are kept at a constant 6C. Taiwan is Cathay’s biggest single market for cherries.
Both 45 South and Cathay have to be ready to change plans quickly. The cherry-picking process in New Zealand is vulnerable to the slightest shifts in weather, such as rain and winds that can negatively impact the crop. This can determine when the shipments are made.
Exports are often sold on contract, with many transactions finalised overnight.
Cameron says pre-Christmas domestic sales are large, with exports only accounting for 30% of the total sales, while post-Christmas domestic sales drop to 15% and exports increase significantly.
Air NZ’s big summer
Air New Zealand Cargo is set to move a huge five million kilograms of cargo through December and January.
Air New Zealand general manager of cargo, Anne Dunne, said cherries are especially popular in Asia during the weeks leading up to Chinese New Year, a time when they’re considered a symbol of good luck, prosperity and family unity.
“With 80% of New Zealand’s cherry crop exported during this period, we want to make sure no cherry is left behind.”
The airline will support exporters from across Aotearoa to move up to one million kilograms of cherries to key export markets like Taipei, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan, as well as smaller shipments to North America.
Through partnerships with other airlines, New Zealand’s sought-after cherries also make their way to Vietnam.
For Christmas, the airline moved meat to markets such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Zurich.
In November it carried around 120,000kg of lamb and beef.
Seafood is also a hot commodity this Christmas, with 1.3 billion kilograms of seafood annually heading across the Tasman to Australia.
Salmon, tuna and shellfish are some of the catch-of-the-day delicacies winging their way across the Ditch.
Grant Bradley has worked at the Herald since 1993. He is the Business Herald’s deputy editor and covers aviation and tourism.
