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Zespri’s Dave Courtney.
Zespri says it’s excited about another strong season shaping up for the kiwifruit industry.
The chief grower and alliances officer, David Courtney, says this season started a little earlier and the industry is right into harvest now.
He told Hort News that for the first time ever they are expecting to supply more SunGold than Green. Latest estimates are 75 million trays of SunGold and slightly fewer than 75m trays of Green.
“The dry weather in most growing regions has created some uncertainty on fruit sizing, but we’re expecting a great tasting crop,” Courtney says.
“Our first vessel has taken fruit to Japan and China, our two biggest markets. We’ll export 600,000 pallets of kiwifruit and use 18,000 containers and 45 charter vessels to transport our fruit to Asia, Europe and the Mediterranean.”
Courtney says the early feedback from the markets has been positive.
Zespri has welcomed the entry into force of the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement today, calling it a significant milestone that will support long-term growth in one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing consumer markets.
Where any worker in the kiwifruit industry is mistreated, we expect the authorities to take action.
Kiwifruit growers are watchful but remain optimistic as concerns around the potential effects of the El Niño weather pattern this season.
More signs of a booming kiwifruit sector.
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When dairy manager Miriam Lauridsen learned the farm, she was joining held weekly health and safety meetings, she initially thought that was “a bit over the top”. Experiencing that culture changed her mind.
Nominations are open for the 2027 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year Award.
