The 2021 export onion season is off to an early and positive start, Onions New Zealand chief executive James Kuperus says.
"Amongst all the turmoil created by Covid and the weather, it's great to be able to report that exports of New Zealand onions to Indonesia are under way, two months earlier than last year."
The result was thanks to the efforts of New Zealand government trade officials to keep trade open, and a decision by Indonesian officials to release quota early, Kuperus said.
Seventy-eight tonnes of onions harvested in January left for Indonesia last week.
"While this is small, it signals the season is under way early, and prices reflect the additional costs of growing and exporting during a pandemic."