The extent of the damage to the food industry from Cyclone Gabrielle is slowly becoming clearer.
A report by Stuff shows both the domestic and export markets will be hit hard.
NZ Apples and Pears says the Hawke’s Bay pipfruit crop would be 33% smaller because of damage to orchards. All varieties of apple and pears were affected.
And Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers estimate about 25% of their vintage was destroyed by the cyclone and by a follow-up rain event. About 300 hectares of grapes were directly impacted by silt or floodwaters, with 140 hectares destroyed, amounting to about 3000 tonnes of grapes. A significant rain event after the cyclone damaged another 7000 tonnes of fruit.
DairyNZ says 45 farms suffered significant damage and had to dry off early as they did not have power, or because road closures meant milk trucks could not get to them for collection.