A new survey has found that Zespri growers in New Zealand are less confident of the future than they were two years ago, with most concerns tied up with the strength of their currency.
The study, carried out by Colmar Brunton, found that 46 per cent of the 420 growers interviewed between May and July were concerned about the future, with the dollar and profitability singled out as key worries.
But on the upside, 92 per cent said they felt Zespri’s performance was good or very good, ahead of the target 80 per cent the international marketer hoped for. “We were particularly pleased this season, because this has probably been the lowest year in terms of grower returns for three or four years,” Murray Denyer, general manager of corporate services, told the NZ Herald. He added that unless the NZ dollar softens, the sector is likely to experience an equally difficult season in 2008. As it is, Zespri is forecasting payment to growers for the current season to drop by 13.7 per cent on last year for green fruit, and by 4.8 per cent for Gold.
The survey also showed that the industry is largely in the hands of long-established, older growers.
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