Statistics

In 2024, Tomatoes New Zealand had approximately 140 registered members growing fresh tomatoes, with a farm gate value of over $161.6 million (March 2024).

Exports

New Zealand growers exported over 902 metric tonnes of fresh tomatoes to 12 mainly Asian and Pacific Rim countries in the 2023 calendar year with the main export season being from October to April each year. Exports have been decreased since a high in 2019 when the total volume sent overseas was 3316.5 metric tonnes. There are a variety of reasons for this but covid and disruptions to sea freight definitely contributed. Japan remains a strong market for New Zealand grown tomatoes with almost half of all exported fresh tomatoes going there in 2023, followed by New Caledonia and Fiji.

 Tomato exports by year and destination 

Imports

Fresh Tomatoes can presently only be imported from Australia. Those imports must be grown under a compliance programme that seeks to reduce the likelihood of those tomatoes carrying fruit fly eggs, larvae or flies, and must all be irradiated. The tomatoes when sold in New Zealand must be labelled as “Irradiated”.

This trade commenced in 2013, after an almost two year break in tomato imports due to the banning of dimethoate, the previous treatment required for fruit flies.

The import season usually runs from June to October. In 2023 around 530,500kg of tomatoes were imported. Details of fresh tomato imports from 2000 to 2023 can be found at the below link. 

Tomato Prices and Supply in NZ

Statistics New Zealand Household Economic Survey figures show New Zealand households spent $109 million on tomatoes in the year to June 2019.