Enza kiwifruit logos

New Zealand-based fresh produce giant Turners & Growers (T&G) has reported that interest in its product range has been high at the Asia Fruit Congress trade show and exhibition, held on 8-10 September in Hong Kong.

Along with its subsidiaries Enza and Delica, the T&G stand has been showcasing produce including tomatoes, oranges, lemons, new apple varieties Jazz and Envy and Enza's globally grown kiwifruit varieties.

'We've been mobbed at the stand every day, the amount of interest in Jazz, Envy, EnzaRed and EnzaGold has been phenomenal, I've never seen anything like it,' said T&G chairman Tony Gibbs in a press release.

'Commentators here are telling us that the Turners & Growers stand is attracting by far the most interest at the show,' he added. 'We've done countless media interviews and there's been a constant stream of high-quality buyers from all major retailers and wholesalers around Asia, and many from around the world.'

The exposure for T&G's new apple and kiwifruit varieties has been particularly high, the group noted, with Jazz apples and EnzaRed kiwifruit featuring on Hong Kong's leading TVB news and Chinese public broadcaster Xinhua visiting the stand to interview Mr Gibbs and taste fruit.

And he said that the event has represented an opportunity to wow the Asian markets.

'Buyers here are extremely fascinated with the look of our EnzaRed kiwifruit and love the flavour,' Mr Gibbs noted. 'EnzaGold is also proving extremely popular and the combination of new high apple quality and kiwifruit varieties under the Enza brand is creating strong demand.'

Meanwhile, Mr Gibbs said that buyers had expressed disbelief at the existing 'monopoly' around New Zealand's kiwifruit industry, with 'a great deal of discussion' taking place on bringing new kiwifruit varieties to market.

'Many buyers see the benefits of expanding and updating the New Zealand industry to free exports of new innovative varieties like EnzaRed as it will expand the kiwifruit category globally and provide even more opportunity for New Zealand kiwifruit,' he added.