With New Zealand losing large quantities of Zespri Gold kiwifruit to vine disease Psa-V, the country's chief marketer has indicated to Turners & Growers it is open an export trial of the Enza Gold variety, which has proven more resistant to the disease to date.

Turners & Growers managing director Jeff Wesley has told www.freshfruitportal.com a recent meeting with Zespri chief executive Lain Jager in Berlin was positive, but a decision would still be subject to approval from regulator Kiwifruit New Zealand (KNZ).

"While it’s not entirely resolved yet, at this stage it appears Zespri has agreed to a one year trial program testing exports into Korea, North America via Oppenheimer, and Hong Kong and China.

"Originally we were looking for a long term collaborative marketing agreement - long term in the sense of four periods of five years - but the decision at this point has been made given the situation with Psa and gold kiwifruit.

"We're expecting 350,000 trays of gold kiwifruit going out this year and with the devastation of Zespri's gold kiwifruit it seems they are open to evaluating how our variety goes.

Zespri chief executive Lain Jager said negotiations had been constructive so far.

"Collaborative Marketing discussions with Turners and Growers have been constructive to date and a positive outcome, following the approval of the First Gold application last year, would give growers and exporters confidence that the Collaborative Marketing framework can effectively accommodate the commercialization of third party kiwifruit varieties in New Zealand," he said.

Turners & Growers' 20-year export period was rejected by Zespri in late 2010.

Related story: NZ kiwifruit variety holds up well to Psa but export not allowed

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