MPI Hails Kiwifruit Boom as Horticulture Revenue Surges Past $9 Billion
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Director General Ray Smith is giving a big shout-out to the horticulture sector, especially kiwifruit.
It produced the biggest-ever total return to growers, highest-ever Green return per hectare and record sales volumes for both Zespri Green and Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit.
Zespri chairman Peter McBride says total sales revenue for the season also grew to hit $1.9 billion, up 21% from the previous season.
The total fruit and service payment to growers for New Zealand-grown fruit increased 22% on the previous year to $1.143 billion, with average return per hectare reaching a record $60,758.
"Zespri sold 131.6 million trays in the 2015/16 season, up 21% on the previous season. New Zealand-grown kiwifruit sales hit 117 million trays – nearly 22 million trays more than the previous year – and 14.5 million trays of non-New Zealand kiwifruit," says McBride.
