Dutch import company Hillfresh is preparing to receive its first new-season volumes of New Zealand kiwifruit at the start of May, having been appointed earlier this year as an officially licensed distributor of Zespri-branded fruit.
Following a warm summer in New Zealand, the company said initial forecasts were good and confirmed that the overall crop would remain at the same level as the last few years at around 100m trays (18kg).
Of that total figure, approximately 73m trays will be Hayward and 26m trays will be Hort16A.
'The New Zealand kiwi season will start as from week 18 and the expectations are good,' said account manager Edward Kempeneers.
'After a warm summer in New Zealand the first forecasts are good and the volumes of 2011 will be equal to the volume of 2010,' he added. 'The kiwifruit have a high sugar level and the correct sizes.'
Hillfresh will also supply Zespri Green organic kiwifruit from New Zealand, alongside conventionally grown Zespri Green and Zespri Gold.
