Canned peas from Canterbury and canned corn from Hawkes Bay are the first New Zealand vegetables to be exported to Russia.

Vegetable processor Heinz Wattie has already shipped the peas which will be followed by the corn.

Russia is a growing market for consumer products says Heinz Watties spokesperson Paul Hemsley.

“These are our first canned vegetables ever exported to Russia. This is the opportunity to export a consumer ready product.

"They get to see it labelled just the same way as Watties peas and Watties corn in our own supermarkets.”

Paul Hemsley says the Russian market offers further opportunities for New Zealand vegetables.

“This is a start and we will be working with our colleagues in Heinz to explore other opportunities and markets for New Zealand produce such as this.”

Currently 55 percent of Heinz Watties production is exported, the major markets being Australia, Japan, South Korea, Europe and the United States.