WELLINGTON - New Zealand's kiwifruit industry has taken its first steps towards year-round domination of global markets by selling Italian and Iranian kiwifruit in key export markets as the supply of New Zealand fruit winds down.
Kiwifruit New Zealand's Zespri International marketing arm has bought class-one Italian kiwifruit to sell -
under Italian brands - on the east coast of the United States. Class-two Iranian kiwifruit packed and exported under the supervision of Tauranga company Southern Kiwi will be sold under the Caspian brand in the Middle East, South-east Asia, Latin America, the Russian Far East and Indian Ocean markets.
During the northern hemisphere summer, New Zealand kiwifruit dominate about 70 per cent of the market, but until now Zespri's sophisticated distribution system in Europe, North America and North Asia has been underused during the northern winter.
New Zealand's Zespri-branded kiwifruit have sold out in most main export markets earlier than ever this season.
"Year-round marketing is a pillar of our growth strategy," said Zespri chief executive Tony Marks.
"These shipments represent an important leap forward. Instead of leaving our customers in key markets without quality fruit from November to May each year, we will be able to market non-New Zealand fruit."
Zespri is also negotiating to license New Zealand's valuable new golden kiwifruit cultivar under licence to its Italian orchardists to fast-track a year-round supply of the fruit for supermarket chains. - NZPA
