New Zealand supplementary pollen provider PollenPlus is looking to start exporting its pollen in order to balance the loss of its business in New Zealand due to the outbreak of kiwi vine disease PSA, local paper Bay of Plenty Times reported.

Quoting the company’s owner Steve Saunders, the report said that the company is producing only 40% of its regular supply of pollen due to the PSA virus, which was first diagnosed in the beginning of November. The issue of pollen is particularly sensitive since it is believed to be one of the main transfer agents of the outbreak.

"We were three days into production when the PSA was announced," Saunders was quoted saying.

The company, which is the world’s largest supplier of pure chieftain male pollen, immediately shut down its production and started testing, according to the report.

The company now has freezers of pollen ready for export. PollenPlus is looking towards Korea and Japan for exports, since Australia and the United States have blocked entry of the product.

Despite the intense focus on the connection between the PSA outbreak and pollen, Saunders is not convinced that there is a link and urges more analysis into the matter.

Source: www.freshfruitportal.com