Kiwifruit bonanza year propels Zespri to record revenue.
Kiwifruit marketer Zespri says its annual operating revenue has passed $3 billion for the first time.
The result, from global sales and licence release revenue, reflected strong international demand with 167.2 million trays of kiwifruit sold in the 2018-2019 season, up 21 per cent on the previous season.
Revenue was
up 26 per cent on the previous year.
Total fruit and service payments, including loyalty premiums, to New Zealand growers increased 24 per cent to $1.8 billion, while average orchard gate returns to growers were up 6 per cent to $63,622 per hectare for green fruit and by 28 per cent to $145,991/h for SunGold fruit, the company said.
Green organic fruit orchard gate returns climbed 40 per cent to $73,350 and by 14 per cent to $44,549/ha for sweet green.
