Unscrupulous kiwifruit growers are threatening to damage the European market by supplying it prematurely with inedible product, says French shipper Blue Whale.
The company’s export manager Marc Peyres said some Italian and Greek kiwifruit went on sale in Spain during the last week in September – four to six weeks before the fruit is typically mature enough to eat.
“It is scandalous,” he told Fruitnet. “How will this activate the market if the first fruits available are totally inedible? The people who pick and pack this fruit have no respect for the fruit category and no respect for consumers.”
Peyres added that the forthcoming French kiwifruit season could be more complicated than last year’s, which he described as excellent thanks to strong demand, great quality fruit and favourable exchange rates.
Firstly, Italian and Greek yields are significantly up on last year, putting greater pressure on international markets. And secondly, customers around the world are now clamouring for Zespri’s new gold variety, SunGold, to fill premium orders, which will make it harder to shift top-quality green kiwifruit going forward, he said.
French kiwifruit volumes are stable, Peyres added, and maintain their global market position as a premium quality fruit.
'The weaker euro will help achieve more competitive prices on overseas markets this year, and could help boost sales volumes,' he said. 'However, the main market for European kiwifruit remains the European market where this does not apply.'
As for promotional activities this coming season, Blue Whale will continue to organise tastings at retail level, especially in Asia, Peyres said.
