increase font size
Chinese authorities have recently clamped down on companies in that country which have been packaging and selling their own local fruit under the Zespri brand.
Authorities in China have clamped down on companies in that country which have been packaging and selling their own local fruit under the Zespri brand.
In recent weeks, Zespri has been working with the Shanghai police to take enforcement action against a small number of people involved in extensive counterfeit operations. Information gathered through Zespri's investigations have allowed local police to successfully conduct a number of raids against those sellers.
During these raids, it was also discovered that the counterfeiting operation also affected fellow fruit marketer Dole and Zespri customer GoodFarmer, which have since joined the enforcement action.
The Public Prosecutor's Office has confirmed it will be prosecuting these crimes, with the enforcement action already having a significant deterrent effect on counterfeit sales on the e-commerce platform.
Zespri says this action reflects its strategy of taking targeted action to keep unauthorised fruit or counterfeit branding out of its key channels, to help defend its premium brand and demonstrate its commitment to food safety. It also reflects the commitent from local authorities to enforce IP rights.
A company spokesperson says the work in this space is increasingly important with similar cases of counterfeit expected to rise as the availability of locally grown unauthorised G3 increases in future years.
"Zespri is pleased to see the action to protect the interests of New Zealand growers and Zespri customers.
"We acknowledge the strong support of local authorities and look forward to continuing to work with them in the future," the spokesperson told Hort News.
Meanwhile, Zespri has also filed further legal action to recover damages from those involved in the propagation of Gold3 plantings as part of its commitment to protectng the industry's investment and intellectual property rights.
It has filed a petition in a Chinese court to recognise and enforce the judgement of our Court of Appeal against those found to have taken the original budwood out of NZ to China.
This is in order to recover remaining damages from the $12 million awarded to Zespri after Haoyu Gao. His associates were found guilty of fraudulently offering to license Zespri varieties to parties in China and facilitated the planting of these varieties on Chinese orchards.
New Zealand's kiwifruit industry has welcomed Government co-investment in a new five-year programme designed to help growers produce higher yields of premium fruit, with less water, fewer nutrients and reduced environmental impact.
Zespri's sales of kiwifruit for the 2025 season have broken all past records.
Fonterra is strengthening its foodservice presence in China with the launch of a new cream for professional bakeries at Bakery China 2026 in Shanghai.
Zespri says its global fruit sales revenue has reached a record NZ$5.9 billion from sales of 248.1 million trays.
Zespri says it welcomes the recently signed Western Bay of Plenty Regional Deal, describing it as an important step towards supporting growth in the region and for New Zealand's kiwifruit industry.
Analysis of decades of research has revealed the implementation of good farming practices plays a critical role in reducing nutrient losses to improve freshwater outcomes.
Yesterday the Government used the opening of Fieldays to announce a major investment, as part of its Land Use Flexibility package, to support a more productive and sustainable future across six sectors including dairy.
Dairy farmers need to be high quality partners to the beef industry, says Prem Maan, the co-founder and executive chairman of the dairy corporate Southern Pastures.
The regions that will host clinical training for the University of Waikato's new medical school from 2028 have been confirmed, alongside a new nationwide approach to clinical placements for medical students.
The bumpy road you travel on teachs you a lot, believes Don Watson. And that’s the message he and wife Kirsten, supreme winners of the Auckland Ballance Farm Environment Awards, aim to pass on to their three sons.
New Zealand’s food and fibre sector is on track to deliver record export earnings, with export revenue forecast to reach $64.3 billion in the year ending 30 June 2026.
OPINION: While we're on the topic of lumberjacks, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard has no doubt used a chainsaw hundreds of…
OPINION: To a chorus of crying greenies, and not a minute too soon, the Government has moved to put the…
