Zespri’s Northern Hemisphere operations have seen an increase in SunGold volumes. Photo / Zespri
Zespri’s Northern Hemisphere operations have seen an increase in SunGold volumes. Photo / Zespri
Zespri’s counter-seasonal Zespri Global Supply (ZGS) programme is under way with about 33 million trays, or 118,800 tonnes, expected this year from orchards in France, Italy, Greece, Korea and Japan.
That includes almost 26 million trays of Zespri SunGold kiwifruit (or 93,600 tonnes), a 30% increase on last season, alongside7 million trays of procured Zespri Green kiwifruit from Greece and Italy (25,200 tonnes).
Nick Kirton, Zespri’s executive officer of Northern Hemisphere supply, said the increase in SunGold volumes reflected mostly favourable growing conditions, with Italy contributing a 35% increase in Zespri SunGold and Zespri Organic SunGold volumes compared to last season.
“Following the completion of sales of New Zealand-grown SunGold kiwifruit in Europe, our ZGS SunGold sales programme has now been under way for the past few weeks.
“We’ll also be transitioning to ZGS-grown SunGold kiwifruit in our Asia markets and in the US in December, with Zespri Green sales getting under way as soon as we’ve wrapped our New Zealand Green programme, with Europe now under way.”
Kirton said Zespri’s Northern Hemisphere production played a central role in supporting its objective of maintaining a 12-month supply to customers and consumers in global markets to support its position as the category leader in kiwifruit, strengthening New Zealand and offshore grower returns.
He said Zespri was looking forward to providing even more high-quality, great-tasting kiwifruit from the Northern Hemisphere in the coming years.
Photo / Zespri
Work had been under way since January to roll out the additional 420 hectares of SunGold for Zespri’s Northern Hemisphere growing regions after the successful New Zealand producer vote at the end of 2024.
This included 300 hectares allocated to Italy, 70 to Greece, and 40 to France, with the remainder to be developed in South Korea.
Kirton said this expansion marked the first commercial production of SunGold kiwifruit out of Greece.
Zespri was also set to provide customers and consumers in Europe with its red-fleshed Zespri Red variety, with the commercialisation of 170 hectares approved in Italy over the next two years.
“The expansion of our Northern Hemisphere growing operations has sent a clear signal of our confidence in the long-term demand outlook for Zespri kiwifruit and enables us to continue partnering with the best local growers.
“Each season, we work closely with our supply chain partners to improve productivity while maintaining the highest-quality standards that define our brand, and we’re looking forward to a strong start to the Northern Hemisphere sales season.”
