Zespri emblem

International kiwifruit marketer Zespri has eased fears that crops have been affected by two hailstorms that hit growing regions this week.

The Mount Maunganui and Papamoa areas of Tauranga were hit by the storms around midday on 11 May, with one Te Puke grower describing the severe storm as 'like someone getting a shotgun and firing it into all of the canopy'.

However, the group said that the storms had caused 'no known damage' to crops, despite the 'significant media interest' surrounding them.

It added that the early harvest has ensured that there is enough fruit to meet market requirements, with all shipping programmes well underway already and 11 per cent ahead of last season's volumes.

Zespri Europe confirms that that hail will not affect the kiwifruit quality or total volume to its markets,' the group said in a statement. 'All market commitments will be met and the agreed Zespri volume of superior quality fruit will be delivered to the markets.'

The earliest season on record has seen 72 per cent of Zespri Gold and 44 per cent of Zespri Green kiwifruit already harvested and on its way to markets.