The late maturity of a large crop has forced the New Zealand kiwifruit industry to take volume out of its export inventory, according to single-desk marketer Zespri.

In a statement, a Zespri spokesperson told www.freshfruitportal.com there would be no financial impact on individual growers who have had their fruit crop-managed compared to other growers.

Crop management in this sense means either leaving fruit on the vines, the orchard floor, or selling it in the New Zealand or Australian markets.

"The New Zealand kiwifruit industry has decided to crop manage a small proportion of the total Green crop this season in the larger sizes," the spokesperson said.

"The plan will remove 3 million trays from inventory (around 3 percent of forecast Green volume), with the allocation ideally focused on lower dry matter and poorer-storing fruit.

"Crop management is a tool which ensures only premium-quality fruit reaches our customers and consumers."

She said the late season was a key part of the decision, as large volumes of fruit entering the supply chain late in the campaign could lead to challenges with fruit storage and quality.

"Crop management isn’t a new thing – the industry has used it in three of the past eight seasons."

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www.freshfruitportal.com