Zespri has released its August forecast of returns for the 2015/16 season, with orchard gate returns for each grower pool - green, gold, organic green and Green14 – falling within the ranges the single desk marketer announced in July.
The total fruit and service payment, across all pools and excluding loyalty premiums, is currently forecast at NZ$1,071.6m, a substantial increase on the NZ$915.8m achieved in 2014/15.
The August forecast for green, NZ$4.87 per tray, sits at the lower end of the July range, NZ$4.80 - NZ$5.20. However, in an update emailed to growers, Zespri chairman Peter McBride said an increase in average orchard productivity this year had resulted in a forecast per-hectare return of NZ$53,841 for green, which is close to the same record return level achieved in 2014/15.
The August forecast for gold orchard gate returns is NZ$7.76, which is at the mid-point of the July range of NZ$7.60 - NZ$7.90.
Green Organic is forecast at NZ$6.75 per tray, falling within the July range of NZ$6.70 - NZ$7.00. Green14 is at $6.69 (July range $6.50 - $7.10).
The updates were approved by Zespri’s board of directors at a meeting earlier this week (w/c 17 August).
