Zespri has released its first guidance to growers for the 2025/26 season, outlining strong OGR per tray and per hectare ranges.
The kiwifruit marketer has released preliminary forecast guidance for when early-season fruit will still be in the market. This guidance will bve refined as more information becomes available throughout the season on fruit and market performance.
Zespri CEO Jason Te Brake said positive early season conditions have supported a strong start to this season’s harvest with a total crop of more than 205 million trays, or 738,000 tonnes, now expected.
“Our industry has packed more fruit at this time of the season than ever before and our first charter vessels have departed successfully, which is important as we look to get off to a fast start and return strong value back to our growers," said Te Brake.
“Our initial guidance also anticipates improvements in our fruit size and foreign exchange positions this season, with downside risks considered including provision for quality costs should fruit quality deteriorate, softer market conditions and reduced trade stemming from ongoing global geopolitical uncertainty."
The feedback Zespri has received from customers across Europe, China and North America over recent weeks was that there’s strong demand for Zespri Kiwifruit, and its teams were looking forward to selling this season’s fruit as more arrives in the market in the coming weeks.
Te Brake noted that the Zespri Board has approved the commercial production of 170 hectares of RubyRed Kiwifruit in Italy over the next two years, supporting efforts to continue to strengthen the Zespri brand through the availability of a red variety in Europe as part of Zespri’s 12 month supply strategy.
“It’s an exciting time for Zespri RubyRed Kiwifruit, with nearly all of our three million trays of New Zealand-grown fruit now packed, with its berry-like taste available in a number of new markets this season, including the United States," he added.
“Growing RubyRed Kiwifruit in Italy will support efforts to deliver on Zespri’s 12-month supply strategy, help us build our brand and maintain shelf space and retail partnerships to support New Zealand grower returns, particularly given the increasingly competitive red category."
The commercialisation of RubyRed Kiwifruit in Italy has been covered by Zespri’s existing approval to plant up to 1,000 ha of new variety offshore as approved by growers via producer vote in 2019. This was also the first time Zespri has used this allocation.
