6.29      Truffles

6.29.1 Industry profile

The New Zealand Truffle Association (NZTA) represents the interests of truffle growers, and assists with promoting and developing truffle growing in New Zealand.

Truffles are the underground fruiting bodies of fungi that live in a close symbiotic relationship with suitable host plants. The highest value truffles grown in New Zealand are the northern hemisphere species, Périgord black truffle and Bianchetto white truffle. Truffles have fetched $2,000 to $3,500 per kilogram on the local retail market in recent years. High levels of black truffle production in Australia mean that the retail price of black truffles on that market is significantly lower. Prices in Europe fluctuate from year to year depending on the size of the harvest.

The Périgord black truffle tends to prefer warm summers and cool winters, while Bianchetto can be grown in cooler areas that are less suitable for black truffle. The first black truffles grown in the southern hemisphere were produced in Gisborne in 1993, and the first production of Bianchetto white truffle in the southern hemisphere was in Christchurch in 2006. Since then, the number of people growing truffles has grown, partly due to increasing awareness of local production through the media and use of truffles by chefs. Commercial nurseries have also become involved in promoting truffle-growing, with an increased supply of truffle-inoculated tree seedlings.

NZTA research shows there are probably several hundred truffières (truffle orchards) in New Zealand. Most are small to medium-sized plantings of 0.5 to 2 ha. Due to the natural time lag between planting and the first harvest, a significant percentage of these have yet to produce truffles. Some large scale truffières have been established in recent years. Production is complicated by the difficulty in locating the product underground. Total production is not known, but the NZTA estimates that total production is in the hundreds of kilograms as of the 2024 season, which is still underway at time of writing. Production has been assisted by the increased number of trained truffle dogs as well as several professional handlers with dogs working to find truffle. Only a portion of the total production is of sufficient quality for fresh consumption, and most are sold to New Zealand restaurants. However, there is increasing production of truffled products such as cheese, butter and oils. The remainder is used to inoculate seedlings or may go unharvested. Virtually all New Zealand truffle production is sold domestically, with room for this market to further develop.

New Zealand has potential to supply the high-value markets of Southeast Asia, Europe, and the United States during the off-season for European production. The challenge for these markets, particularly those in Europe, is to appreciate the availability of fresh out of season truffle. The challenge for exporters is to secure sufficient and consistent volume and ensure this has an uninterrupted and reliable cool chain through to offshore customers. The NZTA has supported the establishment of a growers' marketing co-operative with a focus on creating a formal export industry. Several dozen established producers have joined the co-operative.

Truffles are a prescribed product under the Horticulture Export Authority. The NZTA continues to prepare for exports by refining its export marketing strategy in accordance with the requirements of the Horticultural Export Authority. The current version of this strategy incorporates updated New Zealand truffle standards for the export of truffles, prepared by NZTA. In developing this standard, the industry has referenced the relevant standard developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE FFV-53 2010/2017). This internationally recognised standard is also being adopted by the Australian Truffle Growers Association. The NZTA has also developed and introduced a National Standard for Inoculated Seedlings, which is in the implementation phase.

6.29.2 Exports

There were no exports in 2024. In 2023, three kilograms of truffles were exported to the USA.

Table 6.29.1: Truffles (0712.39.11.00) export markets 2023-2024 (year ending June, tonnes, $NZ FOB)

6.29.3 Barriers to export

SPS market access barriers

There are no major market access issues facing truffle exporters. To date, few truffles have been exported through formal channels. This is due to strong domestic demand, small size of export consignments, logistics and administrative issues, and perishability.