Zespri International Ltd is ready to start pre-commercial growing trials of a new red kiwifruit cultivar this winter. Company Chair Bruce Cameron said the cooperative wanted to extend the RubyRed season because there was high demand for the fruit in export markets.
Cameron said with more RubyRed orchards reaching maturity in future, the cooperative expected to supply around 6.9 million trays of the fruit by 2027/28: "The decision to progress another red variety to pre-commercial trials is part of our effort to explore how to extend our supply of Zespri RubyRed Kiwifruit throughout the season and return more value to growers. The new cultivar that will enter pre-commercial trials is expected to have different seasonal timing to Red19 [Red19 was marketed as RubyRed] making it a complementary variety.”
If commercialised, the new variety, along with Red19, would help the cooperative meet growing demand and keep red fruit on shelves for a longer period, Cameron said.
Source: stuff.co.nz
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