Kiwifruit takes big hit

The biggest hit has been taken by Green kiwifruit where the volume is the lowest in 20 years with only 42 million trays available for export – as opposed to the 61 million trays in 2022.

Overall, Zespri estimates that it will only be able to export around 136 million trays of Green, SunGold and RubyRed kiwifruit to more than 50 countries this season.

This is down from the 171 million trays supplied in 2022. This season’s crop may potentially reduce even further as orchard assessments are completed following April’s hail event in Te Puke.

Zespri chief executive Dan Mathieson says it’s been an extremely challenging growing season in New Zealand, with growers affected by multiple severe weather events.

“Like many others in the primary industries around the world, kiwifruit growers have faced a particularly tough time this growing season, including many weatherrelated challenges,” he says.

“As a result, we have a limited supply of kiwifruit for our customers this season. But despite the challenges, our Zespri teams around the world are working hard with our global customers to get the best possible outcome this season.”

Mathieson adds that while it is disappointing lower volumes will make it more challenging for customers to access Zespri Kiwifruit, it provides an opportunity for the industry to focus on lifting fruit quality this season and prepare for increased volumes in 2024. He says there’s been a huge effort across the industry and supply chain to do everything possible to lift quality this season.

“While it’s still early in the season, it’s been promising to hear the consistent feedback across our key markets that our initial shipments are showing much better quality out-turns this season,” Mathieson says.

“We’ve already seen that in our Asian markets and in Europe where there is strong demand from local consumers.”

He adds that with more than half this season’s fruit harvested, planning for next season is already underway to manage a much larger forecast crop in 2024. From a supply perspective, Zespri is expecting significantly more volume in 2024 as growers rebound from this season’s weather-related reduced yields and more licenced SunGold Kiwifruit hectares come into maturity.

Zespri’s NZ supply is forecast to reach almost 230 million trays in 2027/28. Meanwhile, Mathieson says its Northern Hemisphere supply locations are also forecast to more than double from this year’s 25 million trays by 2027/28.