This season, it is expected that around one million trays, or 3600 tonnes, of Zespri’s popular Zespri RubyRed Kiwifruit will be consumed. The berry-like fruit is now available in most supermarkets and fruit and vegetable stores in New Zealand. It will also be sold in markets across the Asia Pacific, including Japan, China, Taiwan, Singapore, and for the first time, South Korea, Malaysia, and Hong Kong.
Zespri CEO, Dan Mathieson, is excited about reaching the one million tray milestone for Zespri RubyRed Kiwifruit, which is in its third year of commercial production. He said that the volume of Zespri RubyRed Kiwifruit has tripled compared to last season. This is great news for customers and consumers in New Zealand and across the Asia Pacific, including several new markets this year.
The RubyRed variety has a strong demand and is particularly popular among younger consumers who enjoy its unique taste, color, and health benefits. The fruit was developed through Zespri’s kiwifruit breeding program, in partnership with Plant & Food Research. It is smaller in size compared to other kiwifruits.
Mathieson expects strong growth across all kiwifruit varieties this season, with 193 million trays to be shipped worldwide. The volume of Zespri RubyRed Kiwifruit is set to increase as new orchards start production. Zespri continues to gather consumer feedback to meet the strong demand and maximize the value for RubyRed growers.
Marketing campaigns will support the sale of Zespri RubyRed Kiwifruit across markets this year. These campaigns will include in-store activities and sampling, as well as digital and social campaigns using influencers to promote the unique flavor and health benefits of Zespri RubyRed.
Zespri and Plant & Food Research continue to explore new kiwifruit varieties through their joint venture, the Kiwifruit Breeding Centre, established in 2021.
Some facts and figures:
– The supply of Zespri RubyRed Kiwifruit is expected to triple in volume in 2024 compared to 2023.
– This season, it is also available in Japan, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, and Hong Kong for the first time.
– Zespri RubyRed Kiwifruits have a shorter shelf life compared to other Zespri varieties and should be kept refrigerated until ready to eat. If the fruit is hard, it should be left at room temperature to ripen.
– Zespri RubyRed Kiwifruit is the latest variant from Zespri’s world-leading kiwifruit breeding program, in partnership with Plant & Food Research, with 2024 marking the third year of commercial production.
