Zespri Launches “Grown for Good” Global Brand Platform
Zespri has unveiled Grown for Good, a refreshed global brand platform, in an effort to reinforce the company's commitment to nutrition and creating value across the kiwifruit industry.
Growth in European consumption of ‘non staple’ fruits represents good news for New Zealand brand kiwifruit and apples.
European consumption growth of 'non-staple' fruits like kiwifruit and branded premium apples represent good news for New Zealand's horticulture sector, says Rabobank’s senior fruit vegetable and floriculture analyst Cindy van Rijswick.
"Indeed, out of all southern hemisphere exporting countries, NZ is the best positioned to take advantage of this," she says.
"NZ has a good reputation for high-quality fruit, efficient growers and strong exporters."
This trend to premium products has also helped particularly strong growth in the berry sector (fresh and frozen), van Rijswick says. Significant growth is foreseen over the next five years.
The health attributes of berries and their versatility as an ingredient in smoothies and dairy products is also behind the upswing in demand, she says.
"We are also forecasting a revival in the demand for stone fruit," she says, driven by investment in new varieties, which is expected to ramp up demand for plums and peaches from fairly stagnant levels over recent years.
"Another high growth category is avocados; this is a global phenomenon, just like berries."
In contrast, Ms van Rijswick says, 'staple' fruits and fresh vegetables are expected to show stable and, in some cases, declining growth in the coming five years, as fresh-cut and frozen fruit and vegetables gain market share from the whole fresh and preserved categories due to their 'value' proposition.
Horticulture New Zealand says proposed changes to the Plant Variety Rights Act 2022 will drive innovation, investment and long-term productivity.
More than 1200 exhibitors will showcase their products and services at next month’s National Fieldays, with sites nearly sold out.
Despite difficult trading conditions for European machinery manufacturers brought about conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, alongside the United States imposing punitive tariffs, Italian manufacturer Maschio Gaspardo, has seen turnover increase 12% in 2025 to €390 million (NZ$775m) with a net profit of €11.2 million (NZ$22.3).
New Zealand innovation company Techion, best known for its animal diagnostics platform, FECPAK has signed an exclusive strategic partnership with Farmlands to bring independent animal health disease intelligence to its customers.
Zespri says it welcomes the recently signed Western Bay of Plenty Regional Deal, describing it as an important step towards supporting growth in the region and for New Zealand's kiwifruit industry.
Troubled milk processor Synlait has lost its third chief executive in five years.

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