Colin Bond: Chief Executive of New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers on the final charter for Kiwifruit season

The final charter for the Kiwifruit season has set sail. 

This is Zespri's 60th vessel for the year to 50 different markets. 

This season's crop has broken records, with 215 million trays weighing in at 770,000 tonnes. There's also been a significant growth in US and European markets. 

Chief Executive of New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Colin Bond says that, 'those growers are going to receive more value per trade than they ever have before.'

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Not just dairy by the way, sixteen past seven, not
just dairy by the way, that's booming. We're wrapping this
ki fruit season with the final shipment on its way,
sixtieth vessel. We're doing fifty different markets these days, two
hundred and fifteen million tray, seven hundred and seventy thousand tons.
Colin Bond is the chief executive New Zealand a Kiwi
fruit growers Colin Morning.

Speaker 2 (00:18):
Good morning mate.

Speaker 1 (00:19):
Does it feel like the best of times?

Speaker 2 (00:24):
Yes, it does. Actually another key milestone in our season
now to see our last charter of leaving and growers
having confidence that all their hard work is final and
getting shipped off shore. So not very happy to see
this milestone ring.

Speaker 1 (00:36):
Where's the supply and demand balance? That have you had more?
Could you sell more?

Speaker 2 (00:41):
Certainly that's all the messages we're getting out of Zestbury. Yes,
we continue to put more hectares in the ground and
we have some confidence at Estbrey confined markets for that
fruit a good value.

Speaker 1 (00:53):
Are more markets all the same markets taking more.

Speaker 2 (00:58):
But are both certainly same store sales increasing, more sales
to individual countries and we hope espreys thinking ahead and
developing new markets for our product.

Speaker 1 (01:08):
Good break me through the colors is green? I mean,
yellow is hot, isn't it? That's where we'll gold or
whatever you call it. That's really where the money is,
isn't it.

Speaker 2 (01:15):
Well, that's certainly where the growth is. But I think
this season, to be honest, is a story about green
because we've got sixty million trays again and those growers
are going to receive more valued per tray than they
ever have before, which I think is an outstanding effort.
And alongside that you're still being able to grow the
red and gold category. So the importance of diversification and

(01:36):
value for all?

Speaker 1 (01:37):
Is red a thing? I mean will it be a thing?
Can it be a thing? Or is it going to
always just be red? And niche?

Speaker 2 (01:43):
It's going to be niche, but it starts the season,
it introduces new consumers to the category. It's another opportunity
to get our brand out there in front of people.
So niche bit important in the overall products.

Speaker 1 (01:56):
Do people understand I know, gold's hot because it's a
bit sweet and all that stuff. Do people understand the
health benefits of green? I mean, the more you read
about green and the more what it does for you
gut biarmngel ex. It's like literally a wonderfood.

Speaker 2 (02:11):
It is, and it's I think growers understand the value
of it, and now we've had it scientifically proven. So
the challenge is to make sure we get their message
out to consumers so we can capture even more value
for growers.

Speaker 1 (02:22):
And what about the land value and accessibility to land
and all that sort of thing. Is that in check
a people bullish and happy with what's going on in
the industry.

Speaker 2 (02:31):
Yeah, I think so. And the big talent will be
next year when ZPI releases another four hundred hectares of license.
But certainly the sense I guess is that growers are
confident in the industry they can find access to land.
So if we can keep these developments growing, we can
keep We're all in New Zealand thriving.

Speaker 1 (02:46):
Good on you mate, Always good to have the good news.
Colin Arbond, who's the chief executive of New Zealand, Keep
we fruit growers. I mean you're sick of the good
news yet. This morning.

Speaker 2 (02:53):
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