Zespri kiwifruit unloading Antwerp

New Zealand-based group Zespri is anticipating a squeeze on kiwifruit prices this season as overseas markets respond to the current global economic crisis.

Despite a tough selling environment at the end of 2008, the final forecast payment for the 2008/09 season is down only NZ$0.02 from December predictions at NZ$7.53 per tray, Radio New Zealand reported.

And Zespri's chief financial officer Merv Dallas said that the group would maintain strong sales this year by getting fruit to market as early as possible – a move that proved successful during the previous season.

The group is holding a series of meetings with growers in the main production regions of the country to discuss issues facing the industry, he told Radio New Zealand.