Zespri has announced its preliminary price guidance for the 2024/25 season, signaling increased returns per hectare for New Zealand kiwifruit growers across all varieties. The guidance, subject to refinement as the season advances, reflects anticipated improvements in fruit quality metrics.
Specifically, Zespri Green is projected to yield $75,000 to $91,000 per hectare, a rise from $64,930 in the previous season. Zespri SunGold is expected to bring in $145,000 to $166,000, compared to $143,537 last season, and the new RubyRed variety is forecasted at $50,000 to $56,000, up from $41,057.
After challenges including fruit quality issues and environmental damage, the sector anticipates better yields. Zespri aims for a strong start to the new season, emphasizing early harvests to leverage initial sales opportunities. With approximately 15 million trays harvested to date and expectations for rapid increases, Zespri projects shipping around 190 million trays globally. The company's marketing efforts are intensifying to meet consumer demand, highlighted by the early success of RubyRed kiwifruit sales in Japan.
Source: ruralnewsgroup.co.nz