HortNews
	Australian Apricots Beat NZ Fruit On Price, Quality

DUNEDIN 11/1/2002 - Fruit from Central Otago orchardists was beaten on supply, quality and cost factors by Australian apricots, says big fruit processor Heinz Wattie.

Last week, Central Otago processing committee chairman Gary Bennetts revealed the Roxdale Cannery at Coal Creek had missed out on significant contracts with Heinz Wattie and only 400 tonnes of apricots was being processed from fruitgrowers in a bumper 2002 fruit season.

A representative from Heinz Wattie was unavailable for comment last week, but when approached today, Heinz Wattie Australasia corporate affairs manager Glenda Orland confirmed the contract with Roxdale had not been competitive.

Asked to confirm if the apricots were coming directly from Australian orchardists she said: "Correct, through an Australian cannery. "It's their the cannery's responsibility. They have to supply them in terms of the agreement. We can expect a fully supply from them."

Ms Orland pointed out that as a commercial operation Heinz Watties had to consider supply, quality and cost when purchasing products.

For several years, the company had sourced part or all of its canned apricot requirements from Roxdale because that company had been successful bidders in a competitive market.

But since the close of the contract arrangements for the season, two further negotiations had been conducted with the cannery, which would result in supply of some canned apricots to Heinz Wattie from Central Otago growers through the Roxdale cannery.

Asked about labour costs, Ms Orland said although she did not have figures to substantiate her comment, she had been told the labour cost in New Zealand was less than Australia.

Roxdale Foods manager Fred Jeffery could not be reached for comment about the company's pricing structure and whether Central Otago growers received more for product from his company in comparison to payments received by Australian growers from the successful Australian cannery.