Displaying items by tag: kiwifruit

A recent global report says the outlook for the NZ kiwifruit sector remains strong due to expanding kiwifruit consumption in Asia, the EU and the US.

New Zealand's borders are opening again and kiwifruit grower organisation NZKGI wants backpackers coming into the country to help with this year's harvest.

The kiwifruit industry needs to automate to protect growers from the labour challenges the industry faces.

Gold kiwifruit continues to dominate fruit exports in an otherwise challenging market, according to recent Stats NZ figures.

"We have to think a bit differently now."

October 1 is confirmed as the start date for Plant & Food Research and Zespri's new 50/50 joint venture Kiwifruit Breeding Centre.

In a somewhat ironic twist, the global Covid pandemic is helping to drive demand for New Zealand kiwifruit.

Moves are well underway to establish a new Kiwifruit Breeding Centre (KBC) - a joint venture between Plant and Food Research (PFR) and Zespri - designed to speed up the process of developing new and improved kiwifruit varieties.

Kiwifruit exporter Zespri has reported a record 2020-21 season, with bumper tray returns across all categories.

Kiwifruit is a Kiwifruit is a key sector for the country's horticulture industry and contributed almost $2 billion to communities across NZ in 2020. Covid-19 has thrown a major spanner into the country's harvests by severely limiting the number workers, many of whom would usually come from overseas. Mike Murphy of NZ Kiwifruit Growers Inc. talked with Bay of Plenty grower and employer Sean Carnahan about the challenges.