Friday, 13 December 2024 08:16

More kiwifruit to be grown overseas

Written by  Peter Burke
Up to 420 additional hectares of Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit per year will be planted in Italy, France, Japan, South Korea and Greece over the next six years. Up to 420 additional hectares of Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit per year will be planted in Italy, France, Japan, South Korea and Greece over the next six years.

Kiwifruit marketer Zespri got the go-ahead from New Zealand kiwifruit growers to increase their plantings of its fruit overseas.

The new arrangements will see up to 420 additional hectares of Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit per year over six years planted in Italy, France, Japan, South Korea and Greece starting next year. Kiwifruit plantings are already licensed by Zespri in several countries because it allows NZ kiwifruit to be available year round and fill a gap when NZ fruit is not available

Regulations required Zespri to get at least 75% support from growers to increase its overseas plantings. A vote was taken and an overwhelming 90.6% of kiwifruit growers supported the move. The voter turnout was 72.21%.

In the past, growers had rejected such a proposal, but this time the kiwifruit growers organisation NZKGI openly backed the Zespri move, with chief executive Colin Bond saying it makes sense that NZ should fill any gap in the market. He says markets are becoming increasingly competitive and NZ cannot leave a gap for competitors.

“That is why we have supported this Zespri initiative,” he says.

 Zespri chief executive Jason Te Brake says the result of this vote is crucial to working towards 12-month supply for key customers in key markets, filling more demand and supporting NZ grower returns into the future.

 “The outlook for Zespri Kiwifruit is positive. I’ve spent a lot of time in the markets with our customers in 2024; they want more of our fruit, and they want it all year,” he says.

More like this

UAE trade deal - a game changer

OPINION: In a landmark move that could reshape New Zealand’s agricultural export landscape, the recently signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the United Arab Emirates opens up unprecedented opportunities for our farming and dairy sectors.

UAE FTA signed

New Zealand’s free trade deal with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has now been signed.

PM heads to the UAE

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is off to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for high-level talks with Emirati leaders.

Securing the elusive India FTA

New Zealand's support for India during its current global security crisis could be key to securing a free trade agreement with the nation, according to the head of one of the country's largest independent accounting firms.

McClay off to India - again

Almost a year to the day from when he made his first trip to India, Trade Minister Todd McClay is jetting off there again just before Christmas.

Featured

Major shakeup for the NZ science system

The government has announced a major restructuring of the country's seven crown research institutes (CRIs), which will see them merged into three public research organisations (PROs).

Putting theory into practice

Hamish and Rachel Hammond jumped at the chance to put their university learning into practice by taking up a contract milking offer right after graduation.

Workers a big part of the farming business

"We couldn't do this without our team. They are integral to everything." That's the first thing that Te Awamutu dairy farmers Jayson and Stacey Thompson have to say about their team.

Editorial: O Canada

OPINION: The Canadian government's love affair with its lifestyle dairy farmers has got it into trouble once again.

Tough year for UK farmers

Volatile input costs, fluctuating commodity prices, a reduction in direct payments and one of the wettest periods in decades that resulted in a disastrous harvest, have left their mark and many UK farming businesses worse off.

National

New insights into rural fire risk

New student research from the University of Canterbury in partnership with Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) could improve knowledge…

Embrace mechanical weeding now

Mechanical weeding is exploding in Europe because increasing resistance means they have "run out of herbicide", says Canterbury agronomist Charles…

China still a good option

The ongoing rise of the Chinese middle class will drag up demand for New Zealand products there in the future.

UAE FTA signed

New Zealand’s free trade deal with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has now been signed.

Machinery & Products

Batten Buddy - cleverly simple

Stopping livestock from escaping their environment is a “must do” for any farmers or landowners and at times can seem…

U10 Pro Highland a step up

A few weeks after driving the CF MOTO U10 Pro ‘entry level’ model, we’ve had a chance to test the…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Drunk on power!

OPINION: The end-of-year booze-up at the posh Northern Club in Auckland must have been a beauty, as the legal 'elite'…

Time has come?

OPINION: It divides opinion, but the House has passed the first reading of the Gene Technology Bill.

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter