Record season predicted for NZ kiwifruit

FreshInfo | 27th August, 2008

New Zealand’s kiwifruit export season is looking like one of the best on record, according to grower-owned marketing desk Zespri. Zespri is predicting a 20 per cent hike in returns to growers year on year, and a 100 million tray export season for the first time. Acting chief executive Lain Jager said: "If this is achieved and delivers higher in-market returns it will truly be an outstanding result.” Recent exchange rate gains had been offset by a 25 per cent increase in freight costs.

An early start to the season enabled Zespri to capture shelf space from its competitors in Asia, and to a lesser extent, this carried over to the European market. Latest forecasts say payments to growers will increase to $781.9 million, compared to $651.3m last year. Green fruit growers have been told to expect $6.91 a tray, organic growers $9.15 and gold growers $9.54. Jager praised growers for producing fruit that closely matches market requirements. "An excellent production season, combined with the use of pruning and harvesting techniques to meet Zespri's requirements, is a major contributor to the projected improvement in returns this season," he said.