First gold kiwifruit of season bound for Japan

SEASON OF CHALLENGE: The kiwifruit season is under way, with an estimated 190 million trays expected to head to global markets, but the industry faces challenges again around Covid-19 and labour supplies. Seven of 72 shipments of kiwis will leave from Eastland Port this season. File picture

The first 4100 tonnes (1.15 million trays) of this season's Zespri SunGold kiwifruit left the Port of Tauranga last week for Kobe and Tokyo in Japan, marking the start of Zespri's 2022 shipping programme.

Gisborne kiwifruit were on board the MV Solent Star and seven of the planned 72 shipments this season will be from Eastland Port.

The ships will deliver a crop estimated to be over 190 million trays (or 680,000 tonnes) of fruit to Zespri's global markets.

Zespri chief global supply officer Alastair Hulbert said customers and consumers around the world were eagerly awaiting this season's kiwifruit.

“Demand for Zespri kiwifruit is strong across our global markets and this season we're expecting another large and great-tasting crop of fruit,” says Mr Hulbert.

“We're looking at exporting more than 115 million trays of SunGold kiwifruit and around 70 million trays of green in 2022. This season also marks our first commercial volumes of Zespri RubyRed kiwifruit which will be available to consumers in New Zealand, Singapore, Japan and China.”

Mr Hulbert said while global demand for kiwifruit remained strong, the industry was facing a number of headwinds this season given the ongoing impact Covid-19 is having on labour availability.

“We know this season is going to be particularly challenging given the significant labour shortage we have and the continued disruption Covid-19 is imposing on our global supply chain,” he said.

“The labour shortage will place significant pressure on the industry and it will challenge our ability to get all of the crop picked. Our focus remains on looking after our people and doing everything we can to safely pick, pack and ship as much fruit as possible.

“This will include working closely with our long-term shipping partners to navigate the congestion we're seeing among global shipping networks.”

Mr Hulbert said Zespri expected to undertake four charter sailings to North Europe, 12 to the Mediterranean, six to the US West Coast and 50 to the company's Asian markets.

“The continued use of charter vessels will be important in our ability to avoid much of the congestion we're seeing at container ports, and we're also looking at new options this season such as partnering with T&G Global to co-ship fruit to North America.

“This reflects the growing demand we're seeing for our fruit in the region, and our first liner will depart in late April.

“While we face challenges this season, our industry remains committed to providing our consumers with another great-tasting crop of fresh, healthy and great-tasting Zespri Kiwifruit.”