The gold kiwifruit production will be reduced by one third

The PSA disease now affects Katikati and Waihi.  Professionals believe that the next harvest of gold kiwifruit will be reduced by one third due to disease.

 
The disease attacks the gold kiwifruit orchards more fragile than the green variety Hayward. The entire sector will enter in a decisive period and the impact will be more precisely known in the coming months, in spring season, with warmer temperatures.
 

Te Puke is the district most affected by the disease, it normally provides about 14 million trays, or 45% of the production.  The Seeka operator, based in Te Puke is reviewing its policy of jobs and turns to voluntary departure of the staff too numerous for a less production.

 
The disease seems to spread by air and can travel larges distances. 312 orchards are now infected:  304 in Te Puke, 6 in Tauranga, 1 in Waihi and 1 in Katikati.