The award was made by Organic Products Exporters of New Zealand and sponsored by Trade New Zealand.

But the country's ministry of agriculture warns that organic exporters could face international trade barriers if strong 'buy-local' messages in traditional importing countries become government protectionist policies.

Zespri is New Zealand's largest organic exporter and won the accolade for its successful marketing of NZ$25million (£7.6m) of organic kiwifruit.

The exporter's latest forecast returns for a tray of green organic kiwifruit this season are up to $10.02. This compares to $8.20 last season and $7.11 the year before.

However, returning from an OECD conference in the US, the New Zealand delegation said: 'Certainly the trend is towards buying locally produced organic goods because local production is regarded as more sustainable in terms of energy consumption used in transportation.'

But Zespri warns that the debate goes much deeper and that new consumers of organics expect all round availability. 'Some governments could eventually take up protectionist measures, but New Zealand is the only exporter able to supply the organic kiwifruit market in the northern hemisphere summer,' said Zespri's Stefan Van Rompaey.

Meanwhile, early spring frosts across New Zealand's main kiwifruit growing region of the Bay of Plenty have hit kiwifruit vines.

The worst affected orchards are likely to be those growing Zespri Gold fruit because it is an early flowering variety. Zespri has said it is too early for accurate assessment.