Kiwifruit sector's big night out
The turmoil and challenges faced by the kiwifruit industry in the past 30 years were put to one side but not forgotten at a glitzy night for 400 kiwifruit growers and guests in Mt Maunganui recently.
According to new figures from Stats NZ, kiwifruit exports were valued at $3.1 billion in the year ended August 2024.
This marks a 20% ($524 million) increase on the same period in 2023.
Stats NZ international trade manager Viki Ward says kiwifruit export values for the season so far are the highest they have ever been.
“The kiwifruit export season is typically from March to November,” Ward says.
Gold kiwifruit exports were $2.4 billion, up $457 million (24%) from the year ended August 2023, driven largely by an increase in quality (up 23%).
Green kiwifruit were valued at $737 million, up $67 million (9.9%) over the same period an increase driven by a price increase (up 9%).
Typically, gold kiwifruit have a higher unit price than green.
“Growers in New Zealand are increasingly planting gold, and now red, kiwifruit, to capture greater export value in markets like China and Japan,” Ward says.
The top destination for gold kiwifruit is China, while the top destination for green is the European Union.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will be fronting farmers at three large public meetings organised by Federated Farmers over the coming weeks.
Federated Farmers and a major Australian-owned bank are at loggerheads over emissions reduction targets set for New Zealand farmer clients.
More locally grown tomatoes are coming to stores this month and you can thank New Zealand greenhouses for that.
Changing skill demands and new job opportunities in the primary sector have prompted Massey University to create a new degree course and add a significant major into another in 2025.
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