European kiwifruit harvest estimated close to last year's volume

The 3,100 hectares cultivated in Italy, France and Greece are expected to produce around 70,000 tonnes of Zespri kiwis this year, close to last year's volume.

 

 

 

Sheila McCann-Morrison, Director of International Production at Zespri, said that with the crop being well advanced in the northern hemisphere, Zespri is expected to harvest about 19 million trays or nearly 70,000 tons of kiwifruit from orchards in Italy , in France and Greece.

 

 

 

"The global supply, grown outside of New Zealand, currently accounts for about 10% of all fruits sold internationally by Zespri, but that will increase dramatically with demand," said McCann-Morrison.

 

 

 

Zespri's European producers play a key role in Zespri's global sourcing strategy, which aims to supply kiwis for the 12 months of the year. They cultivate about 3,100 hectares but their areas are expected to reach about 5,000 hectares over the next 5 years.