Bumper harvest expected for New Zealand kiwi

New Zealand’s kiwi producers anticipate a bumper crop this year thanks to ideal growing conditions.The hot summer weather should see large volumes of both green and gold kiwifruit when harvest begins in April. Total volumes might even exceed the record-breaking crop of 2016, with more mature vines than two years ago. Zespri forecasts better yields of both green and gold kiwifruit, with more plants coming into production every year. However, there is still time for the climate to intervene.

Global demand for kiwi is strong and prices are high, which is why Zespri aims to increase sales to US$4.5 billion by 2025. New Zealand’s kiwi industry has invested in new varieties and worked cooperatively to achieve the success seen today. However, it still faces certain challenges, such as the rising price of kiwifruit land and the country’s ageing workforce.