Product Group > Covered Crops
Overview
The Covered Crops group includes capsicums, chillies, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, sprouted beans, witloof, and courgettes. Tomatoes are also a covered crop but are represented by the Fresh Tomato Product Group.
Production of export quality capsicums is specialised, capital intensive, and has a high cost structure in New Zealand. All export capsicums are produced in greenhouses.
Exports of capsicums were valued at nearly $29 million in 2006. Japan is the largest market closely followed by Australia. Together these markets comprise 98% of all capsicum exports. Between 2004 and 2005 exports to Japan rose strongly, up by 129%, but volumes in 2006 were marginally down on 2005 levels. Australian export values have remained static over this period.
Integrated Management
A presentation on the Integrated management of covered crops was made at the 2007 HortNZ conference - to download a PDF of this, please click here.
Issues/Activities
Current export initiatives are focused on reducing reliance on the Japanese market. The industry is seeking improved access to the USA and new access into Korea and China to reduce this market dependence.
Statistics (2006)
Covered Crops Overview
 | Capsicums | | Lettuce | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| 135 | 315 | |||
| Area planted | 87 hectares | 1,207 | |||
| Production | 11,500 tonnes | - | |||
| Exports | $28 million | $1.2 |
Capsicum export markets 2004 and 2010
(year ending June, tonnes and $NZ FOB)
| 2004 | 2010 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market | | Volume | Value | Volume | Value | |
|
| 1,617 | 9,617,677 | 4,225 | 24,696,065 | ||
| Australia | 2,539 | 14,143,055 | 1,686 | 7,988,860 | ||
| Pacific Islands | 68 | 424,033 | 18 | 116,478 | ||
| Other | 13 | 67,741 | 308 | 1,050,264 | ||
| Total | 4,237 | 24,252,506 | 6,238 | 33,851,667 | ||
Source: Statistics New Zealand
