New Zealand kiwifruit is set to begin next week, ahead of last season’s start, while volumes are forecast to be slightly below 2005 levels.
According to marketer and exporter Zespri International, harvesting of early variety Gold will begin in the early picking areas of Gisborne, Opotiki and Kerikeri before the end of the month and first shipments of green fruit to Europe will depart during the third week of April.
Volumes of green fruit are forecast to fall by some 3 million trays to 61.1m, a 4.7 per cent decline, while Gold volume is forecast by Zespri to climb almost 3m trays to 17.6m - an increase of some 19 per cent. However, green organic volume is expected to fall by about 300,000 trays on volumes submitted last season -a drop of about 11 per cent.
Average fruit size for both green and green organic is also likely to be up on 2005. “Favourable summer weather means it is looking likely harvest will be earlier than last year, which indicates it will be a normal season,” said Zespri ceo Tim Goodacre.
“If we look at other crops such as apples, particularly in the Hawkes’ Bay, they have harvested earlier this year.”
He reported that in terms of fruit quality the picture is also positive although currency issues remain of concern. “Dry matter is tracking well compared to previous seasons,” said Goodacre. “…Zespri cannot control the direction of the NZ dollar so we are looking after the things we can control - our focus is on getting good quality fruit into the marketplace and getting good premiums for that fruit.”
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