Zespri has announced a slight lift in its forecast for payments to the industry to $921.8 million for the 2011/12 season.
The increase is due mainly to a small increase in volume and slight decrease in fruit loss, but the average per-tray payment remained at $8.09 per tray the latestforecast statement said.
However, when compared with last year, average orchard gate returns, on a per hectare basis, are 3.4 per cent down for green, 9.2 per cent down for green organic and 2.6 per cent up for gold fruit.
There is no change in returns for green fruit, and growers will receive $6.88 per tray.
However green organic returns are down 10 cents a tray to $8.62, blamed on "a negative market mix impact as more fruit was allocated to the local market, and higher freight and onshore direct costs".
The forecast for gold returns lifted $0.06 to $11.47 per tray reflecting positive impacts of market mix and lower offshore fruit loss.
Chief financial officer Merv Dallas said: "The relative stability in the forecast reflects our orderly season close in Europe. We have a bit further to go in Asia but fruit quality is holding up well."
