Record Kiwifruit Harvest Brings Optimism, but Green Growers Face Profitability Challenges
Signs for the 2026-27 kiwifruit crop look good, but there are still some challenges for growers – especially those who produce green kiwifruit.
ZESPRI SAYS its forecast per hectare returns have broken $50,000 for the first time, predicting orchard gate returns per hectare of $51,047.
This compares to $42, 659 for the 2013 season.
The October forecast Green return per tray has increased to $5.71 from $5.34 forecast in August, supported by price increases in Europe.
The October forecast for Gold is $9.57 per tray, up from an August forecast of $9.36; Organic Green $6.81, up from $6.35; and Green14 $6.98, up from $6.93.
The total fruit and service payment, across all pools and excluding the loyalty premium, is forecast at $882.46 million, up from $856.2 million in the August 2014 forecast.
The Zespri net profit is forecast to be $22 million to $27 million including recognising $6.3m of Gold licence revenue from prior seasons not yet received.
Tayla Steele is in her fourth year of a Bachelor of Veterinary Science at Massey University in Palmerston North.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) says no new cases of H5 bird flu have been detected following a case found earlier this week.
Two months after unveiling a major upgrade to its beef product, Halter says its farmers are on track for major production gains and additional grass growth.
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