Although sales of green and organic fruit were down on last year in volume terms because of a smaller crop, values were up with pricing 9.4 per cent ahead of 2001 on green and 10.9 per cent ahead on organic.

Zespri has also been commended by NZ prime minister Helen Clark for its marketing of new variety Gold and its performance since corporatisation.

'In an era of producer board reform, you have come through with flying colours and gone on to make it work for the whole industry,' said the premier. She added that kiwifruit was 'right on track' to climb higher as an export earner for New Zealand.

She was speaking at Zespri a briefing earlier this month with chairman designate Craig Greenlees. Greenless takes over from Doug Voss in the new year and Voss will join the executive as general manager of Zespri Fresh Produce.

Other changes include Tony Marks stepping down as ceo after four years at the helm and Guus van Der Kleij who cedes his position as Zespri's regional general manager in Europe to Luc Clerx his deputy on January 1, 2003.

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