Zespri global sales top $5 billion for 2024–25 season amid strong demand
Zespri says global sales for the 2024-25 season topped $5 billion on the back of strong demand and market returns.
One long time kiwifruit business person is describing this and probably next year as the worst they can remember.
It's an unusual situation because the Zespri averages of fruit damaged by the frost don't paint an accurate picture of what individual growers are facing.
For example, while the RubyRed crops appears the worst affected, it's likely that the same grower may also have crops of Green or SunGold which could mitigate some of the financial hardship.
It would be unusual, we are told, that a grower would have just one variety.
On the other hand, some growers may have lost their entire crop while others are largely untouched.
But what kiwifruit growers are facing is a double financial whammy.
"Two years in a row - last season it was poor quality fruit and this season it's the frost," says Colin Bond.
What this means is that from now until June next year, all kiwifruit growers will have an income of sorts based on the sale of the 2021/22 crop - remembering however that the quality of this crop was soft and poor, meaning a reduced return. The impact of the frost and other factors will not surface until 2024 when growers will be paid or, in some cases, not paid for the 2022/23 harvest.
Bond says there is a risk that some orchardists will have no income 12 months from now and could face significant financial hardship.
In the meantime it's a waiting game to see if predictions are accurate or whether there is still some hope for the coming twelve months.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
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