According to NZ press reports, Enza will pay its producers the highest average return for six seasons. The top-fruit crop was relatively small in 2001, but the company enjoyed a strong finish to the season which means it will return an average NZ$19.74 (£5.73) per carton to its growers, some NZ$3.40 up on 2000.

Enza marketed just 12million cartons of fruit this past season compared to 18.1m in 2000. And although total returns are NZ$60m down on the previous year, the average is stronger. This means that those producers with good sized, high-quality fruit will have done well. But the mixed bag of sizes and varieties means that those without large volumes will see their return suffer.

Grower representatives are on the whole pleased. Phil Alison of Pipfruit Growers was reported in the New Zealand Herald saying the result was better than expected and has raised the optimism of the industry.

The good news is timely for Enza which for the first time is now operating in a deregulated market and must vie for growers' 2002 crops alongside other would-be exporters . 'In this new deregulated environment, I think growers need a reliable partner with a proven history of success and financial stability,' Enza md Michael Dossor was reported in the Herald.