For the fourth year running, the United States-based World Apple Review has named New Zealand's apple industry the most competitive on the global stage, against 33 other major apple growing countries.

The review, released by Belrose Inc, the world fruit market analysts, stated that the innovations emerging from New Zealand's apple industry would increasingly impact production and marketing throughout the world and added that high productivity gains helped deliver outstanding performance, ahead of its closest rivals Chile and the United States.

"To earn and then retain this world-leading title year on year is an outstanding achievement, and rewards everyone who is part of New Zealand's exciting and dynamic apple industry," New Zealand Apples and Pears chief executive Alan Pollard said. He added that the world-leader ranking came as a huge reward to New Zealand's $850 million apple industry, which was celebrating one of its best seasons ever.

"It's really the culmination of decades of conscious effort by New Zealand growers and supporting partners to ensure locally bred and grown apples stand up to scrutiny on the world stage from colour and taste to texture," T&G general manager pipfruit New Zealand Bruce Beaton told nzherald.co.nz.