New Zealand kiwifruit marketer Zespri has announced the latest forecast for the 2010 season’s grower returns, with per tray improvements on both Zespri Green and Zespri Gold kiwifruit, but a slight decline in Green Organic returns.
The October prediction pegged Green (Hayward) returns at NZ$4.09 per tray, up NZ$0.39 per tray from last season’s final figures.
That increase is good news for New Zealand’s Hayward growers, who have been facing profitability concerns with the variety in the face of rising production worldwide.
“Despite some production and in-market challenges this year, Zespri remains focused on driving value back into the Green category,” said the company’s director of corporate and grower services Carol Ward.
“We expect some relief for the category over the next few years as Green orchards are grafted over to new varieties and productivity improves.”
Returns for Zespri Gold are expected to rise NZ$0.99 per tray to NZ$8.72, a figure buoyed by strong demand and a lower production volume this year.
Lingering effects of the global financial crisis have been blamed for the slight dip in Green Organic returns, which are forecast to drop NZ$0.06 per tray on the year before to NZ$5.61.
The company stated its foreign exchange hedging policy has been a boon in the face of the recent rise of the New Zealand dollar. “Had no hedging been in place for this season, average returns could have been up to NZ$0.85 per tray lower than currently forecast,” said Ms Ward.
Zespri has around 10 per cent of the crop still to sell, and the final shipment of the season is due to take place on 28 October, bound for Japan.
The season currently drawing to a close may be the last in which Zespri’s offering is limited to two varieties.
The single-desk kiwifruit exporter announced earlier this year the commercialisation of three new proprietary varieties, and while it will take several seasons to build up serious volumes of the fruit, the varieties will be a new factor in Zespri’s marketing strategy beginning next year.
