New Zealand’s fruit bowl ravaged by cyclone Gabrielle

Cyclone Gabrielle, which struck New Zealand’s North Island in mid-February, is reported to have destroyed multiple orchards and crops just prior to the start of the harvest season. The affected areas include Hawke’s Bay, dubbed the “fruit bowl of New Zealand” as much of the country’s avocados, apples, kiwifruit and stone fruit are grown there. In addition to fruit, the cyclone severely damaged vegetable crops and livestock operations and disrupted infrastructure. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins called Gabrielle the country’s biggest natural disaster this century, with the total damage preliminarily estimated at over US$8 billion. Earlier this year, the North Island already experienced exceptionally wet weather, with some regions receiving four times the normal January rainfall. With February’s cyclone serving as the apogee of this challenging period, many produce exports are likely to be devastated this year and fruit quality may not meet the demands of overseas markets. In the long ...