Italian marketer Summerfruit has announced it has signed a deal with New Zealand exporter Enza which will involve the planting of around 100ha of its early-harvesting kiwifruit variety Summerkiwi in New Zealand and South Africa.
In the meantime, the company is harvesting its first kiwifruit in Chile this season, from trees that were planted two years ago. Around 10 tonnes of product is due to be exported mainly to the US. Summerfruit has been working in collaboration with some of Chile’s leading agricultural firms, including Copefrut, Unifrutti, Del Curto, Frusan, Lafrut, Trinidad Export and Sofruileg Chile, to develop its presence in the South American country. The company has so far planted 190ha, which represents the first stage of its plan to establish production of some 500ha by the end of 2009.
