Growers scoop record-breaking result in Italy, as company accelerates its Northern Hemisphere expansion
In a statement reported by Distribuzione Moderna, it said final returns were €3.23 per kilo, the highest it had ever recorded.
That follows a season in which its Northern Hemisphere volumes were stable and demand in European markets was reported to be strong.
“We have demonstrated that working together on quality and logistics can make a difference,” said Nick Kirton, Zespri’s executive officer for Northern Hemisphere supply. “Our commitment to innovation and collaboration will continue to be key to our growth.”
The company now sources Italian-grown kiwifruit from around 1,200 producers in the regions of Lazio, Emilia-Romagna, Calabria, Veneto, Basilicata, and Lombardy.
According to Kerton, it has managed to develop a direct-to-customer model that extends shelf-life by as much as two weeks.
Following a recent vote by its grower members in New Zealand, its Zespri Global Supply division now has the go-ahead to plant as many as 420ha more SunGold kiwifruit per year in Italy, France, Greece, South Korea, and Japan over the next six years.
It has set a goal of producing 53mn trays of SunGold in the Northern Hemisphere by 2035.
“Of course, every season presents variables, but our commitment remains to generate value for producers and ensure that the path we have undertaken continues to guide us towards long-term growth,” Kirton added.
“Our efforts are focused on creating stable and lasting value, based on collaboration with supply chain partners and producers, continuous innovation, and the determination to leave a positive legacy for future generations.”
