Click here to view more photos of the MV Antwerp being loaded
This season’s final vessel of New Zealand kiwifruit has departed the Port of Tauranga, bound for Japan.
The MV Antwerp is carrying about 1,000 pallets of Zespri Green kiwifruit, compared with a normal load of about 3,500 pallets and will stop in New Caledonia to pick up squash, which is also destined for Japanese consumers.
A total of 64 vessels have exported New Zealand kiwifruit this season, a campaign described by Zespri as a good one and expected to result in a total volume of 102m trays shipped to export markets during 2010.
'It has been a good season, with similar volumes to last year, and weather conditions during production contributing to an excellent fruit taste year – matched by strong customer demand for high-quality Zespri Kiwifruit,' said a spokesperson for the group.
Around 10 per cent of the crop remains unsold and containers carrying kiwifruit will continue to depart New Zealand until the end of November.
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