New Zealand kiwifruit company Zespri has recorded a 4% rise in grower returns from NZ$849 million (US$676.3 million) to NZ$883.3 million (US$703.6 million) in 2010/11.

In a statement the company said average Orchard Gate Returns on its 'Green' variety increased 9% to NZ$32,234 (US$25,678), with net global kiwifruit sales of NZ$1.511 billion (US$1.2 billion).

Chairman John Loughlin said the positive result was achieved despite the many challenges facing New Zealand's growers.

"A stuttering global economic recovery, rising oil prices, seasonal challenges in New Zealand, the impact of Psa on Zespri’s orchards in Italy and the confirmation of Psa in New Zealand, meant a tough environment in 2010/11," he said.

"Against this backdrop, delivering increased total returns to growers is a testament to the New Zealand kiwifruit industry’s ability to keep innovating and keep delivering.

"Against this backdrop, delivering increased total returns to growers is a testament to the New Zealand kiwifruit industry’s ability to keep innovating and keep delivering."

But despite high global sales, the high costs associated with the PSA response meant net profit fell from NZ$25.9 million (US20.63 million) to NZ$$7.3 million (US$5.8 million).

Website Newstalkzb.co.nz reported New Zealand's Bay of Plenty kiwifruit farmers continued to lose fruit to the PSA 'V' bacteria, with government support packages soon to end.

"It's a man-made natural disaster, it's been let in to the country. I was a good farmer, I was producing good kiwifruit and now everything's dying, and I didn't do this to myself," Te Puke farmer Rob Thode told the website, having lost 40% of his vines to the disease.

"We've been trying to cut any kind of expenditure that we can, we've been selling everything that we can possibly get our hands on to sell, we're pretty much relying on things like Working for Families to get by at the moment."

Photo: Zespri

www.freshfruitportal.com