Zespri will showcase a range of market leading solutions at the inaugural Kiwifruit Innovation Symposium, being held in Mt Maunganui during October.
Zespri general manager marketing and innovation, Carol Ward, said innovation is large part of the industry, with Zespri investing over NZ$15m in innovation science each year.
“We want to show our growers and industry what’s coming up and the future challenges we’re tackling,” Ward explained. “The focus for the past few years has been on developing tools and techniques to grow profitably with Psa – now we’re turning our focus back to other areas again and we want to bring industry along with us.
“And it’s not all one way – we want to know what direction our industry thinks we should be heading in.”
Ward added that Zespri’s investment in innovation over the past 15 years has underpinned its premium brand in the marketplace and helped the industry earn NZ$1.57bn in sales last year.
“Innovation has given our growers the world’s leading kiwifruit varieties and the tools to grow the best kiwifruit in the world, as well as a world-class supply chain,” Ward said. “We want to show the industry how we’re building on this for the future and supporting the strong growth ahead.”
The symposium will be held at the ASB Arena on Thursday 29 October. The event will be followed by the Hayward Medal Dinner in the same venue.
