Zespri says the RubyRed kiwifruit harvest will get underway in New Zealand in the coming weeks, with a large increase in volume to mainland China of more than 1 million trays, or 3,500 tonnes, and a further 1 million trays to Japan.
It will also be available for the first time this season in the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and the Pacific Islands.
CEO Jason Te Brake says it’s an exciting time for Zespri RubyRed kiwifruit with volume doubling compared with last season, which is great news for consumers who love its sweet berry taste, vibrant red flesh color and the health benefits delivered by its high content of antioxidants.
“With harvest set to get underway in mid-February, Zespri RubyRed kiwifruit will soon be available in most supermarkets and fruit and vegetable stores across Asia Pacific,” Te Brake said in a news release.. “There’ll be more RubyRed volume in our core markets of mainland China, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea and the popular fruit will also be back in New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, as well as our exciting new markets.”
Zespri RubyRed Kiwifruit is the latest variety to come through Zespri’s kiwifruit breeding program, in partnership with Plant and Food Research, with 2025 marking the fourth year of commercial production, the release said. It is naturally high in vitamin C and contains anthocyanins that are naturally occurring pigments within the fruit giving the fruit its red color.
Te Brake said Zespri RubyRed kiwifruit has been a popular addition with the variety complementing Zespri’s green and SunGold kiwifruit and helping to attract new and younger consumers to the kiwifruit category.
“We’re seeing strong demand for Zespri RubyRed which is unique as it’s more seasonal than Green and SunGold,” he said. “It’s the first variety to arrive in market from New Zealand each season and only available for up to eight weeks once it hits supermarket and fruit and vegetable store shelves.
“It’s fantastic to see volumes ramping up and we continue to build our knowledge on the variety,” Te Brake continued. “The increasing volumes also give us the opportunity to grow demand further and maximize the value we can return for our growers.”
