Jingold expects major rise in kiwifruit supply as demand grows

Italian company Jingold says it is ready to capitalise on growing demand for kiwifruit, especially in Asian markets, during the upcoming European season.

The group, which is exhibiting at Asia Fruit Logistica in Hong Kong this week, expects to see a 20 per cent increase in its domestic production this season, which is due to begin in just a few weeks.

Initial field measurements are understood to show that ripening is slightly ahead of schedule.

Jingold’s marketing season is due to begin around mid-October with red kiwifruit, continue at the end of October with yellow kiwifruit, and then proceed in November with green kiwifruit.

For Jingold, being at Asia Fruit Logistica represents an opportunity to meet with international customers ahead of what could potentially be a very positive sales campaign.

“As part of our strategy for non-European markets, which continues to focus on increasing trade volumes, Asia plays a key role,” says Moreno Armuzzi, Jingold sales manager.

“China remains our main market in the region, joined by several south-east Asian countries including South Korea, Malaysia, and Indonesia, where we are primarily present with yellow kiwifruit.”

The outlook is particularly positive for yellow-fleshed kiwifruit, now Jingold’s core business.

“We expect volumes to increase by at least 20 per cent compared to the previous season,” Armuzzi notes. “This growth will allow us to increasingly respond to a global demand that continues to grow.”

At the same time, available volumes of Jingold’s red-fleshed kiwifruit, Exotic Red, continue to grow.

“Increasing volumes remains our primary objective, for a product that is attracting increasing interest from customers and consumers in the main end markets,” he adds.

“Red kiwifruit is gradually moving from a curiosity to an established product within the category. A growing number of consumers are familiar with the product and eagerly await the end of October to find it back on supermarket shelves.”

Crucial contacts

For Armuzzi, the opportunity to meet with trade contacts in Hong Kong is well timed, especially given the current logistical and geopolitical challenges in global supplpy chains.

“The situation on international markets is now ‘stably unstable’,” he observes, “amid high costs, longer transit times for container ships than in the past, and new, potentially unforeseen geopolitical events.

“However, the fruit and vegetable sector continues to demonstrate strong resilience, and Jingold is planning a sales campaign aimed at further consolidating its position in overseas markets as well.”

In this context, he concludes, Asia Fruit Logistica takes on a value that goes beyond a simple trade fair.

“It’s an important opportunity to meet our clients’ key buyers and closely observe the trends and dynamics of an increasingly important area of the world in global trade, not just in the fruit and vegetable sector.”