As demand for New Zealand-grown gold kiwifruit rises across the globe, the body representing kiwifruit exports to Australia has warned that the volume of green fruit shipped across the Tasman could fall this season.
Tony Ponder, chairman of New Zealand’s Kiwifruit Product Group (KPG), said the strong performance of the NZD against the AUD is anticipated to lower returns this season. With the exchange rate and in-market prices likely to remain consistent throughout the season, Ponder said shipment volumes are likely to be similar or lower than last year.
Not intent on losing long-term ground in the Australian market, KPG and a number of key exporters have begun developing and implementing a new marketing plan, aimed at lifting kiwifruit consumption.
“This year, for the first time, the industry will commence a 3 year marketing programme for New Zealand kiwifruit to help grow overall consumption of kiwifruit in Australia and contribute to a successful season and returns.” Ponder explained. “This signals a maturing of the industry to work collectively to grow the value of the Australian market for the long term.”
While the details of this season’s in-market activity are still being finalised, Ponder was confident the quality of this season’s crop would be able to back-up the promotional push. A hot, dry New Zealand summer has brought on fruit size and brix counts in both gold and green varieties. The first green volumes are expected to trickle into Australian stores by early June, while gold volumes should be available by May.
The New Zealand industry is forecasting a harvest of around 30m trays of gold kiwifruit this season – 25m of which will be Gold3 (marketed as Zespri SunGold) – surpassing the previous record of 29m trays sold in 2011, prior to the outbreak of the Psa vine killing disease.
