Marketer says it has targeted 26mn trays from its counter-seasonal programme, as new season gets underway
Zespri’s counter-seasonal Zespri Global Supply (ZGS) programme is now underway, supporting the company’s efforts to deliver 12-month supply to customers in key markets.
This season, the kiwifruit marketer expects to sell more than 26mn trays, or more than 93,000 tonnes, of kiwifruit from orchards throughout France, Italy, Greece, Korea, and Japan.
Zespri’s executive officer for Northern Hemisphere supply, Nick Kirton, said the ZGS season had kicked off in Europe following the completion of sales of New Zealand SunGold.
“Our Japan and Korea markets are also set to shift to ZGS SunGold in the coming weeks, with the US and China to follow in December,” he said. “For Zespri Green we expect to sell more than 7mn trays from Italy and Greece this season with sales getting underway as soon as New Zealand sales have wrapped up in the coming weeks.”
Kirton said Zespri was looking forward to providing customers and consumers with high-quality, great-tasting kiwifruit throughout the transition from New Zealand-grown to Northern Hemisphere-grown fruit.
“ZGS plays a critical role in our efforts to provide customers and consumers with premium Zespri Kiwifruit for all 12 months of the year, helping maintain shelf space until the New Zealand season starts again, and supporting returns for our New Zealand and offshore growers,” he said.
The ZGS programme was established around 25 years ago and, according to a Zespri release, involves working with approximately 1,500 Zespri growers offshore.
In response to increasing demand and intensifying competition, Zespri is currently asking New Zealand kiwifruit growers to support the expansion of the programme via a producer vote.
Voting launched on 11 November and is open until 5 December, with growers being asked to support the allocation of up to 420 additional hectares of SunGold kiwifruit per year over six years across Italy, France, Japan, South Korea, and Greece, subject to annual review by the Zespri board.
The proposal has been co-developed with the industry following an extensive engagement process.
