Gold Kiwifruit Exports to Australia up; Green Consistent

Gold Kiwifruit Exports to Australia up; Green Consistent

Industry to launch its first marketing campaign in Australia

TAURANGA, Thursday 30 April 2015: The export of New Zealand kiwifruit to Australia has begun and is showing signs of the recovery of GOLD Kiwifruit from Psa.

A hot, dry New Zealand summer will see increased volumes of GOLD exported to Australia, however the volume of GREEN New Zealand kiwifruit is forecast to be similar or lower than last year. 2014 saw 285,000 cartons of GOLD exported to Australia and just over 1.35 million cartons of GREEN.

Tony Ponder, the chairperson of New Zealand’s Kiwifruit Product Group (KPG), the body representing kiwifruit exporters to Australia, says production from New Zealand continues to increase, in line with world-wide demand for New Zealand kiwifruit which has lifted significantly over the last three years.

“Most of this lift in volume is around the new “Sungold” variety which is more tolerant to the deadly Psa bacteria which has affected the Hort16a Gold variety,” says Ponder.

Due to this lift in world-wide demand, GREEN volumes into Australia are likely to reduce or remain static. The strong performance of the New Zealand dollar against the Australian dollar is anticipated to affect the price for GREEN New Zealand kiwifruit with prices expected to remain consistent throughout the supply season.

“This year, for the first time, the industry will commence a three-year marketing programme for New Zealand kiwifruit to help grow overall consumption of kiwifruit in Australia,” he says. The campaign, which kicks off in July will focus on increasing consumption by communicating the high nutritional value of kiwifruit.

“This also signals a maturing of the industry to work collectively to grow the value of the Australian market for the long term”.

GOLD New Zealand kiwifruit will be in market by mid May with Green New Zealand kiwifruit in stores by early June.

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