Zespri has released its November forecast for the 2024-25 season with forecast returns up across almost all categories from the last forecast in August.
According to a news release, forecast orchard gate returns have increased for all categories other than RubyRed kiwifruit at a per-tray level. Meanwhile, forecast per hectare returns are now at record levels for green and organic green kiwifruit due to improved yields while maintaining strong market value, according to Zespri.
Forecast per hectare returns for SunGold kiwifruit are up from August and remain steady for Green14 and RubyRed, the release said.
According to the November forecast, the average per-tray Zespri kiwifruit returns were:
- Zespri green — $8.10 per tray.
- Zespri organic green — $11.17.
- Zespri SunGold — $11.22.
- Zespri organic SunGold — $14.32.
- Zespri Green14 — $8.47.
- Zespri RubyRed — $16.60.
“The lift in forecast orchard gate returns reflects the strong fruit quality we’ve seen this season when there’s been a record crop of more than 190 million trays to sell,” Zespri CEO Jason Te Brake said in the release. “There’s strong demand for Zespri kiwifruit, which is supporting a strong season finish with our teams in market focused on minimizing late-season quality costs.”
Te Brake said SunGold quality has been particularly strong this season, supported by strong sales in Zespri, while green quality has become more challenging at the back end of the season.
“We’re managing this with just a few weeks’ worth of fruit left to sell as we look to maximize the value we return to growers,” he said. “It’s pleasing to see the industry’s efforts in delivering quality fruit at large volumes to our customers, and we look forward to closing out the New Zealand season strongly.”
