Kiwiflier
Read the latest Kiwiflier newsletter which highlights key industry news and events.
The October 2025 issue of Kiwiflier is available online here.
This edition's key updates include:
- An update on Zespri’s upcoming Momentum 2026 Conference (p.1.), which will take place on 25-26 February at Mercury Baypark, Mount Maunganui, as well as info on how to nominate someone for the Fresh Carriers Hayward Medal.
- Jason’s CEO column (p.2), which acknowledges the continued effort across the industry to keep fruit moving and highlights the importance of staying close to our markets. He also takes note of our season’s progress as we head into the final stretch.
- Detail on our preferred fruit size for 2026 (p.4), where we outline the preferred size profiles and how they support premium positioning, shelf presence, and sales performance in key markets.
- Detail on the share buy-back (p.2) which received strong participation, with results showing the percentage of dry shares and shares above the 6:1 cap dropping below four percent.
- A reminder for growers to update their bank account and GST details to ensure loyalty payments in 2026 are processed smoothly (p.2.).
- An update on Zespri’s 2035 Strategy and how it is being shaped by global trends that are already influencing how we operate and where we focus (p.2).
- An update on grower sentiment in relation to strengthening grower ownership of Zespri (p.3.).
- Congratulations to 2025 Kiwifruit Innovation Award Winner, Brett Wotton, on p.5. for his work to support lifting fruit quality across the industry.
- A wrap-up of our run rates in the post-summer fruit phase of our season sales plans (p.5) which notes a record weekly volume high of 8.6 million Class 1 trays being delivered in mid-September.
- A Q&A with Oppy President and COO David Smith (p.5.) which looks at how we work together to supply high-quality Zespri Kiwifruit in North America, a key growth market.
- A look at the value the EU-approved health claim for green kiwifruit will bring to Zespri (p.7)
- An update on Red80 and the key things the Board will be examining when they make their decision in October regarding commercialising this variety (p.8). P.8 also includes an opinion piece from Kiwifruit Breeding Centre CEO Dr Matt Glenn, on how KBC is reshaping how new kiwifruit cultivars are developed and delivered to market.
Other articles in this Kiwiflier include:
- Highlights of key promotional activity across our markets in Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, the US, and the UK.
- An update on onshore and offshore fruit quality for Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit and Zespri Green Kiwifruit
- ZGS: preparing for harvest; grower events in Italy
- Zespri in the community: Zespri AIMS Games wrap-up, Ripple Effect Award winners; Zespri School Fund updates; and a reminder to apply now for the 2025 Zespri Horticulture Scholarships
- Insights from the Carbon Neutral Trial
- Shares update: September
- Financial information: Progress payments update; Class 1 fruit and service payments and timings; 2025/26 season grower payment portions TFSP
- GET: The Month Ahead
- KiwiGreen update
- Update on bactericide spraying
- NZKGI update: NZKGI grower symposiums on gene editing
- KVH updates: most unwanted time of the year – BMSB and exotic fruit fly; KVH welcomes new Senior Biosecurity Advisor; KVH 2026 grower calendar coming soon
- Q&A from the Field
- Upcoming Zespri tours and events: Green Grower Town Halls, 2025 Zespri Innovation Symposium, 2026 Grower Tours.
Check out other issues of Kiwiflier here
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