Northern Hemisphere kiwi crop up 6%

This year’s annual International Kiwifruit Organization (IKO) was held in Bordeaux (France) from 9 to 12 September. The IKO delegates agreed on the importance of traceability of product origin and published data on production estimates for the 2018/2019 season. Excluding the yellow-fleshed kiwi, in the Northern Hemisphere (excluding China), supply is expected to reach 732,000 tons, which is 6% higher than last year’s poor harvest, but 3% below the 2014-2017 average.

Europe’s leading producer, Italy, returns to more normal levels, albeit still below the country’s potential. Its crop of 373,000 tons of green pulp kiwi is 13% higher than 2017’s level, but a 16% less than the 2014-2017 production average. The growing interest in yellow-fleshed kiwifruit, especially in Italy, means it now accounts for 8% of total cultivation in Northern Hemisphere countries. In Italy alone, this year’s yellow kiwi crop should surpass 60,000 tons thanks to the gradual entry into production of recently planted plants.

Next year’s IKO Conference will be organised by CSO Italy and held between 8 and 11 September 2019.