Dry weather conditions in New Zealand have ensured that this season’s Zespri kiwifruit harvest will arrive in Europe early this year, with fruit expected to be larger than in 2007.

“Today we expect our first vessel with superb Zespri Green and Gold quality kiwifruit from our New Zealand crop to arrive at the Port of Zeebrugge on the 8 May,” marketing manager Jean-Louis Warnimont told Fruitnet.com. “This will be a record arrival for Zespri as it will be the earliest ever.”

Promotional campaigns will run in Germany, Spain, Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands.