Momentum grows in billion-dollar premium cider export plan
Cider Apples New Zealand is seeking interest from growers and cider makers in three new cider apple varieties as part of the development of a new billion-dollar premium cider export industry.
Last July, the organisation launched a comprehensive Roadmap Report outlining a path to achieving its goal within 15 years.
The Report was made possible through funding from MPI, AGMARDT, Prevar, Plant and Food Research, Fruit Wine and Cider Makers Association, and Cider Apples New Zealand.
Since then, Cider Apples New Zealand has identified five new cider apples varieties though screening apples from Prevar, Plant and Food Research and other breeding programmes. It is seeking interest from growers and cider makers in the first three of these varieties, which are being bulked up with the intention of being released for commercialisation from this winter.
A major expansion of the Cider Apples New Zealand Accelerated Cider Apple Breeding Programme from 4,000 trees to 12,000 trees is underway and will be completed by September 2026. This will ensure an ongoing pipeline of new, unique cider apples to provide New Zealand cidermakers with a sustainable point of difference in the global market.
China is a key focus and this year a series of precommercial cider trials will be run at The Cider Factorie, Elemental Cider and Peckham’s Cider. These small scale precommercial ciders made from a range of new apples will be evaluated in-market to build up a detailed understanding of Chinese consumer preferences for different elements of a premium priced cider.
This information will feed back into cider apple selection criteria for the Cider Apples New Zealand breeding programme. This will ensure that the consumer drives the output of the cider apple breeding programme.
Auckland-based Morningcider has also just completed a $500,000 capital raise to help fund development of premium cider export sales.
