Trade Minister Tim Groser says the high value of the New Zealand dollar is making life extremely tough for the apple industry, but there are prospects for increasing exports to Asia.
Mr Groser told the Pipfruit New Zealand conference in Havelock North on Wednesday that with apple access to Australia now assured, the next step is to develop markets in Asia.
Mr Groser says China is the country which provides the greatest opportunity for growth and there are also good prospects for increasing apple exports to other Asian countries.
He says the key is negotiating biosecurity protocols, which, as has been shown with gaining access to Australia, takes time.
