After Many Golden Years The Last Two Seasons Have Proven To Be Challenging For Zespri

After many golden years the last two seasons have proven to be challenging for Zespri. The Kiwifruit company is shaking off weather events, labour shortages, fruit quality issues and inflation and gearing up for a big rebound in volumes. Chief executive Dan Mathieson says the way the current export season is shaping fruit quality is on the mend, there is continuing strong consumer demand and the outlook is brightening. He says due to the weather and quality of fruit there are much smaller volumes than usual, and he says Zespri’s 2022-2023 financial results reflect the damage from that perfect storm. But on the positive side New Zealand supply volumes are expected to move ahead to a forecast 230 million trays within 5 years. Northern Hemisphere supply locations are also forecast to double volumes during that period from 25 million trays this year. In 2023 Zespri has exported 136million trays of New Zealand-grown fruit to 50 countries, down 35 million trays on last year.