Enza returns to growers fall year-on-year

New Zealand top-fruit exporter Enza has announced it will make a final 2003 season payment, totalling NZ $172 million, to its growers.

On an average basis, across all conventional varieties and sizes, growers will receive around $20 per tray carton equivalent (or 18kg box) for the season.

The pay out is $36m less than in 2001, which totalled $208m, but slightly up on the 2001 payout, which came to $169m. Enza manager Clive Durand said the key is that timely payment of the 2003 return will be a welcome announcement for many apple and pear growers, particularly with the later than expected finish to the campaign.

“We are pleased with this result given the strengthening of the New Zealand dollar against our trading currencies and the relatively large volume of small fruit this year,” he said.

Total sales of around 7.5m tray cartons, were lower than Enza would have liked. “But the favourable market conditions, our solid marketing infrastructureand the solid relationships we have with our customer base has delivered a positive result for our growers,” Durand said.

“A number of varieties were sold at higher foreign currency prices than in 2002, which was an excellent marketing year.”

He concluded: “We are in the process of issuing our 2004 season offer to growers and believe our package will provide a solid global marketing platform and payment certainty for our growers."

Please not that as of November 3, NZ$1 = £2.75 or €1.88