Ōpōtiki grower wins 2025 Kiwifruit Innovation Award
Brett Wotton, an Eastern Bay of Plenty kiwifruit grower and harvest contractor, has won the 2025 Kiwifruit Innovation Award for his work to support lifting fruit quality across the industry.
Kiwifruit marketer Zespri says its kiwifruit has now reached more than 100 million households globally.
The company says the milestone reflects a growing global demand, with household penetration now sitting at 23% in its core markets.
Jiunn Shih, Zespri’s chief marketing, innovation and sustainability officer, says the company is proud to have continued to build on a strong consumer demand for kiwifruit and establish a strong brand consumers love.
“This milestone reflects our continuous focus on brand-led marketing efforts showcasing the benefits of our high-quality, nutritious and great-tasting Zespri Kiwifruit,” Shih says.
“It also demonstrates the progress we’ve made with our expansion into new markets and our use of new sales channels – making our kiwifruit available to more households across the globe,” he adds.
Shih says there is strong demand for Zespri’s kiwifruit, adding that the fruit is becoming increasingly popular with consumers more regularly opting for products that support their health and wellbeing.
“While kiwifruit continues to rise in popularity, there is still plenty of untapped demand which presents an opportunity for Zespri and our growers to continue to supply good quality fruit to grow household penetration further as volume increases,” he says.
Shih says Zespri is confident in its ability to create ongoing value for its growers.
“With an expected crop volume from New Zealand of more than 200 million trays of kiwifruit this season, we’re looking forward to making more nutritious Zespri Kiwifruit accessible to even more consumers around the world, in an increasingly competitive market,” he concludes.
According to ASB, Fonterra's plan to sell it's Anchor and Mainlands brands could inject $4.5 billion in additional spending into the economy.
New Zealand’s trade with the European Union has jumped $2 billion since a free trade deal entered into force in May last year.
The climate of uncertainty and market fragmentation that currently characterises the global economy suggests that many of the European agricultural machinery manufacturers will be looking for new markets.
Dignitaries from all walks of life – the governor general, politicians past and present, Maoridom- including the Maori Queen, church leaders, the primary sector and family and friends packed Our Lady of Kapiti’s Catholic church in Paraparaumu on Thursday October 23 to pay tribute to former prime Minister, Jim Bolger who died last week.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister, Todd McClay is encouraging farmers, growers, and foresters not to take unnecessary risks, asking that they heed weather warnings today.
With nearly two million underutilised dairy calves born annually and the beef price outlook strong, New Zealand’s opportunity to build a scalable dairy-beef system is now.

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