After disappointing returns in recent years, and with rising orchard costs, Kiwifruit marketer Zespri will set aside 200 hectares of its next limited growing licence release area, so green fruit growers get a chance to access the prized best-seller SunGold variety.
Zespri's board has approved the release of a total of 350ha of SunGold and 150ha of the new RubyRed licence for next year.
Of the 350ha of SunGold, 200ha will be ringfenced in a separate licence sale pool, available only to green fruit growers wanting to convert to the gold fruit.
Green fruit growers do not require a licence, but due to ongoing issues, some are said to be now losing money each harvest.
Optimising market performance of green fruit was a key priority for Zespri's marketers, the company said in an update to growers. Managing green volumes would help return more value to growers and offset rising costs throughout the supply chain.
Zespri will also change the way growers compete for licences after an independent review of the process and consultation with growers.
The current closed tender bid process will switch to a new open ascending-price auction, expected to be implemented next year. Details would be confirmed in December once the technology platform was secured, the update said.
Zespri said in setting the 2023 licence area, the board considered not just market demand and the strategy of keeping demand ahead of supply, but the challenges the industry faces with labour shortages and a need to improve fruit quality.
