New Zealand Berry insights

A kiwifruit laboratory established by China and New Zealand a decade ago has yielded fruitful results in preserving germplasm resources, as well as in breeding and promoting new varieties, researchers said.

New Zealand kiwifruit growers have voted overwhelmingly to support the expansion of Zespri Global Supply (ZGS), approving the allocation of up to 420ha of new SunGold plantings per year over six years across Italy, France, Japan, South Korea and Greece. Zespri said the result follows an extensive period of discussion to design a resolution that growers supported, and that would enable Zespri to lift supply in line with forecast demand in the context of intensifying competition and an increasingly dynamic category. CEO, Jason Te Brake, commented: “The process that has brought us to this point, along with the result of the vote, reflects the ability of our industry to come together on pressing issues with a focus on delivering strong grower returns and maintaining Zespri’s position as leaders in a competitive category. “The outlook for Zespri Kiwifruit is positive. I’ve spent a lot of time in the markets with our customers in 2024, they want more of our fruit, and they want it all yea

According to RNZ, New Zealand growers produced a record 197 million boxes of kiwifruit in the 2024 season (ending August 2024). The 2025 season is still early in the growing season, so it is impossible to predict the specific output, but for some orchards, the bud volume is not equal to the flowering volume. 80% of New Zealand kiwifruit is grown in the Bay of Plenty in the North Island. Sandy Scarrow, a consultant at Fruition, said this is especially true in the Bay of Plenty and Gisborne. In her 38 years of experience, this is one of the best bud periods that local orchards have ever encountered, but the flowering period has not progressed at all. Scarrow said that some orchards have aborted buds, and the bud volume and flowering volume of the entire industry are very uneven. On average, the situation is good, but there are also some orchards that are not doing well, which is related to the cold wave in September. David, a kiwifruit orchard owner in the Bay of Plenty Jensen said his four orchards are located at different altitudes on the hills behind Tauranga, and the flowering of the new season is uneven. A month ago, everyone thought it would be another bumper season and expected kiwis to bloom everywhere, but now it is not the case. Jensen has two orchards with average flowering below average. Judging from the current early season situation, the output may be 30% lower than last year. The other two orchards on higher ground are not as seriously affected. The average temperature in September was 1.3 degrees Celsius lower than last year. The weather was cold on some dates. Although there was no frost, it still affected the flowering, causing the flowers in the early stages of development to fall off. Jensen is also the director of investment company MyFarm Chairman, he said that most of the 17-18 orchards in his portfolio are located in the Bay of Plenty, and a few are in Northland. The bud abortion is not as serious as his two orchards. Although the reduction in fruit quantity in some orchards will lead to lower yields, the kiwifruit in these orchards will be larger. In comparison, the kiwifruit in the 2024 season is generally smaller. But Scarrow reminded that the industry does not want kiwifruit that is too big, because large fruits are not popular in many markets. Finally, it is still early in the 2025 season, and there is still a long time before harvest. The impact of the cold wave in September on the new season is still difficult to predict. Photo source: RNZ2024 International Fruit and Vegetable Report All rights reserved. Please contact International Fruit and Vegetable Report for permission and indicate that it is from International Fruit and Vegetable Report