6.28 Walnuts

6.28.1 Industry Profile

Walnut trees have been in New Zealand for over a century. In the late 1970s, the commercial walnut industry began to develop with new cultivars introduced to New Zealand. Today the main walnut production areas are Canterbury, Central Otago, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough, Nelson, Wairarapa and Whanganui.

Total production volume is around 350 tonnes annually, produced by 70 active growers with trees in a planted area of 574 hectares. Orchard sizes range from 50 to 4000 trees, producing anywhere between 100 kilograms to 40 tonnes. The harvest season generally commences in late March and concludes in early May, with some regional variability.

The interests of commercial walnut growers are represented by the recognised grower body, the New Zealand Walnut Industry Group. The purpose of this group is to support commercial walnut growing and maintain the viability of the walnut industry. The group’s aims are to encourage engagement in the industry through discussion, conferences, workshops, training and field days. The New Zealand Walnut Industry Group also promotes and initiates research including cultivar development, and encourages the export of walnuts. An example of this research investigated the carbon footprint of walnut production. Research carried out in early 2022 by Plant and Food Research, found that walnut growing produces very low carbon emissions due to the sequestration of carbon by walnut trees. Walnuts are a prescribed product under the Horticulture Export Authority Act.

6.28.2 Exports

The total export value of walnuts decreased 57% from 2020 to 2022. The main markets are Fiji and the Pacific Islands, which respectively imported 52% and 33% of the export value in 2022. The majority of walnuts are re-exports, with approximately 82% of export value in 2022 attributed to re- exports.

Table 6.28.1 Walnuts (0802.31.00.00, 0802.32.00.00) export markets 2020-2022 (year ending June, tonnes, $NZ FOB)

6.28.3 Barriers to export

Walnuts exported to Fiji are subjected to a 5% tariff which cost the industry $1,089.

SPS market access barriers

There are no known market access issues for walnuts.