Positive first year for ZAG fund
As it enters its second year, Zespri says the first year of the Zespri Innovation Fund (ZAG), has been “really positive”.
Zespri says sales of its popular berry-like RubyRed Kiwifruit will top 1 million trays this season.
Zespri RubyRed Kiwifruit is now available in most supermarkets and fruit and vegetables stores in New Zealand and will also be in markets throughout Asia Pacific including Japan, China, Taiwan and Singapore and for the first time this season in South Korea, Malaysia and Hong Kong. About 3,600 tonnes are expected to be devoured this season.
Zespri chief executive officer Dan Mathieson says it’s exciting to reach the one million tray milestone for the kiwifruit which is in its third year of commercial production.
“Our Zespri RubyRed Kiwifruit volume has tripled compared to last season so it’s fantastic to have more fruit available for our customers and consumers in New Zealand and across Asia Pacific, including a number of new markets this year. There’s strong demand for RubyRed which generates a really high level of excitement and uptake amongst customers and consumers, and particularly younger consumers who love the distinctive taste, colour and health benefits.”
The kiwifruit was developed through Zespri’s world-leading kiwifruit breeding programme, in partnership with Plant & Food Research and has a smaller natural fruit size.
Zespri is expecting strong growth across all kiwifruit varieties this season, with 193 million trays of kiwifruit to be shipped to markets around the world, with the Zespri RubyRed Kiwifruit crop volume increasing with new orchards coming into production.
“As our newest kiwifruit variety, we continue to build our knowledge of Zespri RubyRedTM Kiwifruit so we can meet the strong demand we’re seeing and this includes gathering consumer feedback to drive strong per tray returns in our markets and maximise the value we can return for our RubyRed growers,” says Mathieson.
“We’re really excited about our red variety which complements our Green and SunGold varieties. It’s also a variety which is helping bring new and younger consumers to the kiwifruit category and we believe increased production in the coming years will support its growth in high value markets.”
Strong marketing campaigns will support the sale of Zespri RubyRed Kiwifruit across markets this year. This season’s campaigns will include in-store activations and sampling, as well as digital and social campaigns using influencers to highlight the distinctive flavour as well as the health benefits of Zespri RubyRed.
Zespri and Plant & Food Research continue to explore new kiwifruit varieties through its world leading Kiwifruit Breeding Centre formed as a joint venture in 2021.
Facts & figures
Recent rain has offered respite for some from the ongoing drought.
New Zealand's TBfree programme has made great progress in reducing the impact of the disease on livestock herds, but there’s still a long way to go, according to Beef+Lamb NZ.
With much of the North Island experiencing drought this summer and climate change projected to bring drier and hotter conditions, securing New Zealand’s freshwater resilience is vital, according to state-owned GNS Science.
OPINION: Otago farmer and NZ First MP Mark Patterson is humble about the role that he’s played in mandating government agencies to use wool wherever possible in new and refurbished buildings.
For Wonky Box co-founder Angus Simms, the decision to open the service to those in rural areas is a personal one.
The golden age of orcharding in West Auckland was recently celebrated at the launch of a book which tells the story of its rise, then retreat in the face of industry change and urban expansion.
OPINION: The appendage swinging contest between the US and China continues, with China hitting back with a new rate of…
OPINION: The irony of President Trump’s tariff obsession is that the worst damage may be done to his own people.