Golden season ahead for NZ South Islanders

Kiwifruit growers on New Zealand’s South Island are gearing up for harvest next week with a brighter outlook than their counterparts in the main growing region on North Island.

According to reports in nelsonmail.co.nz vine disease Psa has not spread to the southerly orchards so that growers of gold variety Hort16A are well placed to earn higher prices for their fruit, as the variety is worst hit by the vine disease.

International marketer Zespri has estimated that the harvest of Zespri Gold will be down some 10 million trays to 20m, nelsonmail reported.