Greek kiwifruit production could exceed the 100,000-tonnes mark for the first time ever this season, according to one leading exporter.
The International Kiwifruit Organization had earlier predicted the south-east European country's total harvested volume would be around 90,000 tonnes - 20 per cent higher than in 2008 - but George Kallitsis, marketing director of Protofanousi Fruits, has said he expects the Greek crop to top 100,000 tonnes for the first time since the kiwifruit was first introduced to the country.
According to Mr Kallitsis, a bigger crop may be well timed if demand begins to pick up in recovering markets over the coming months.
“Our export markets have been quiet since the spring due to the economic crisis,” he said. “However, we are anticipating a good crop.'
Weather conditions in Greece have reportedly been favourable up until mid-October. 'The fruit has almost reached maturity and has a high dry matter content, which makes us optimistic about the post-harvest quality,' said Mr Kallitsis. 'We should produce around 7,000-8,000 tonnes this season, of which we’ll export 5,000-6,000 tonnes.”
The season looks encouraging so far, according to Paschalis Lithoxopoulos of Greek exporter Karanikolas. “We should start harvesting right at the end of October. We are expecting to pack a little over 1,000 tonnes this year,” he revealed.
Protofanousi Fruits is again hoping to bolster its sales to the Asian market this season. The company has shipped fruit to Hong Kong for a number of years, but now is now seeing the doors to the prized Chinese market slowly creak open.
According to Mr Kallitsis, a protocol has now been signed between Greece and China that is the start of the process towards allowing direct exports of Greek kiwifruit to China. “We are still waiting for the inspection by Chinese officials, but the protocol has been signed between the two countries,” he said. “So we are now looking to target the Chinese market.”
A version of this article appears in the November/December 2009 issue of Eurofruit Magazine.
