By Maja Burry of RNZ
Kiwifruit giant Zespri is forecasting exports this season will be down by 18 per cent - or roughly 30 million trays - on last year, due to challenging weather conditions.
The first shipment of fruit from the 2023 harvest has just departed the Port of Tauranga, bound for Japan.
Chief global supply officer Jason Te Brake said it would deliver around 145 million trays of green, gold and red kiwifruit to more than 50 countries this year.
About 177 million trays were sold last year, but there were issues with fruit quality, denting returns to growers.