Kiwiflier
Read the latest Kiwiflier newsletter which highlights key industry news and events.
The September 2025 issue of Kiwiflier is available online here.
This edition's key updates include:
- A summary of Zespri’s first full forecast for the 2025/26 season, noting Zespri is on track to deliver strong value to growers in a record crop year (p.1).
- A wrap-up of this year’s Annual Meeting (p.1), where Chairman Nathan Flowerday and CEO Jason Te Brake reflected on a record-breaking season and our future-fit direction for the decade ahead.
- Jason’s CEO column (p.2), which highlights our latest forecast, progress on our 2035 Strategy, and the work underway to lift share ownership as we remain committed to securing strong, and sustainable, value for growers.
- A deeper dive into how our 2035 Strategy is shaping up (p.2), and how our approach to becoming the ‘World’s Healthiest Fruit Brand’ will be structured around three key priorities: unleashing brand-led demand, transforming our global supply, and creating the product portfolio of the future. Throughout this edition of Kiwiflier, and in future editions moving forward, we’re highlighting how the work we do aligns with these strategic priorities.
- An update on our share alignment initiatives (p.3), including key details on our voluntary share buy-back which is now open and closes on 19 September. We also look at some common grower questions around share alignment. Find out more also about our new Zespri share performance page, which is now live on Canopy.
- Insight from Zespri President for Greater China and leader for Global Sales Excellence Michael Jiang into the work we’re doing to lead the fresh produce category with our global sales programme (p.5). Check out p.5 also for a Q&A with our largest distributor in China and globally, Joy Wing Mau, where we ask its Chairman and CEO Jason Zhang about JWM and how we work together to supply this important strategic market with Zespri Kiwifruit.
- We also celebrate on p.7, green kiwifruit becoming the first fresh fruit ever to receive an authorised health claim from the European Commission, marking a breakthrough for Zespri and the wider fresh produce industry.
- An update on the Red80 trial season (p.7).
Other articles in this Kiwiflier include:
- Welcome to our new and returning directors
- An update on our markets
- An update on onshore and offshore fruit quality for Zespri SunGold and Green Kiwifruit
- A welcome to the newest vessel of Zespri’s long-term shipping partner, Fresh Carriers Co., Ltd, the MV Koru
- ZGS spring to summer wrap-up
- 2026 New Zealand season planning outlook
- EOI for 2027 Maturity Clearance Sampling and Testing, and Residue Sampling services
- GAP update: Latest Grower Manual now live on Canopy
- Zespri in the community: a quarterly update of our key community initiatives across our three community investment pillars: Happy and Healthy Community, An Enhanced Environment, and A Skilled and Connected Industry
- Financial information: Progress payments update; Class 1 fruit and service payments and timings; 2025/26 season grower payment portions – TFSP; Full-year forecast return and OGR (industry average only)
- Shares update: August
- GET: The Month Ahead
- Zespri GAP and GRASP auditor training complete
- Canopy Tip of the Month
- NZKGI update: NZKGI AGM summary
- KNZ: Collaborative marketing of kiwifruit and Kiwiberry
- KVH updates: KVH directors join HortNZ Board; Strengthening New Zealand’s biosecurity; Annual Update now available; Rare finds at Port of Tauranga
- Q&A from the Field
- Upcoming Zespri tours and events: Organic Grower Town Hall; 2025 Zespri Innovation Symposium, 2026 Grower Tours.
Check out other issues of Kiwiflier here
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