Three new specialty varieties of apricot bred by Plant & Food Research last season are ready for the export market - Ardgour Valley Orchards near Tarras being among the first.

The orchard was the largest producer of the NZsummer varieties and was also among the largest apricot producers in New Zealand.

Director Sharon Kirk said three varieties - NZsummer2, 3, 4 would be exported progressively between December and February.

Bred especially for flavour, colour and shelf life, she said they had impressed customers who had a taste of the fruit fresh from the trees last summer, and were not only sweet and juicy, but had high colour as well.

“It will be our first year in the international market and we’re forecasting a good crop despite some variable growing conditions, including several frosts and a snowstorm leading into the season.

“The 25ha of trees, which we planted over the past three years coped well with the conditions and are laden with fruit.”

Apricot growers throughout Central Otago have been busy thinning out the bumper crop this season, to help boost the fruit size.

Ardgour Valley Orchards expects to export 70 to 80 tonne this season - weather dependent, with fruit bound for Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Middle East, the United States, United Kingdom and Australia.

Ardgour Valley Orchards is expecting to export 70 to 80 tonne of new bred apricots this season. PHOTO: Supplied

The early variety NZSummer4 would be ready for harvest in mid to late December, followed by NZSummer2 and 3 from late January to mid-March.

“The apricots are super sweet with low acidity, firm texture and have an exceptionally bright colour. Quality apricots generally have a brix (measure of sugar content) between 11-14 and these consistently achieve a brix of 14-plus,” Sharon said.

Two of the varieties – Nzsummer2 and 3 – stored longer than other apricots due to an ethylene-recessive gene, making them ideal for export.

The trees, which were coming into their fourth season, would reach full production in 2026-2027 when output was expected to reach 500 tonnes.

Ardgour Valley Orchards also produced several cherry varieties including a distinctive, white-fleshed variety (Stardust). It would be available in small quantities from early-to-mid January.