The 2010 New Zealand kiwifruit season is shaping up to be a successful one, with another early start to the harvest and all indicators on the volume, quality and taste of the fruit very positive.
Some growers began harvesting Zespri Gold kiwifruit today, while Zespri Green and Zespri Green Organic growers will begin harvesting in a few weeks.
Grower Doug Brown, who grows both Green and Gold kiwifruit, said the coming season looks like being a strong one.
'I'm looking forward to a good season. Our Gold kiwifruit tastes great and Green looks good too,' he said.
Zespri shipping manager Mike Knowles said the first shipments would leave New Zealand in late March, destined for the key markets of Europe and Japan.
'One of these early ships will be the brand new Fresh Carriers Corporation-operated MV Lady Rosebay on its maiden voyage to Zeebrugge in Europe,' Mr Knowles said.
Director of corporate and grower services Carol Ward said it is an exciting time for an industry hoping to follow the success of 2009's campaign.
'I've recently attended a number of grower meetings and it was fantastic to see the positive feeling across the industry, heading into the 2010 season,' she said.
'Worldwide, people are beginning to recover from the economic downturn which bodes well for our industry.
'Zespri continues to invest aggressively in overseas marketing and in research and development, including on-orchard productivity and new cultivars, to secure the best possible returns for New Zealand kiwifruit growers.'
The company is currently assessing four new kiwifruit varieties - one early and two long-life gold varieties and an earlier, sweeter green kiwifruit.
Harvesting of these new varieties began on 4 March and tests are underway to ensure there is enough information to make a commercialisation decision by June 2010.
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