After highlighting the "inconsistent quality" of Chilean kiwifruit, Zespri chief executive Lain Jager has invited Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (ASOEX) president Ronald Bown to back up his recent allegations against the company. 

Zespri chief executive Lain Jager.

In conversation with Chilean newspaper El Mercurio, Bown alleged the New Zealand kiwifruit marketer was engaging in anti-competitive practices in Asia and North America, in a similar way to the actions that led to a fine from the Korean Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) in 2011.

Responding to the allegations, Jager sent a written response to Fresh Fruit Portal emphasizing the joint challenges for the kiwifruit category as a whole in the global fruit market.

"Kiwifruit is a small category comprising less than one percent of the highly competitive global fruit bowl. Much of the kiwifruit around the world is of variable quality, harvested immature with low dry matter and brix levels," Jager said.

"Lifting fruit quality and introducing new varieties are key to growing the kiwifruit category. We note there is some very good Chilean kiwifruit in the market but its inconsistent quality undermines its positioning in the market."

The executive said Zespri's efforts in promoting the category have resulted in kiwifruit featuring in the top 10 fruit in each of its main markets, while Zespri's sales continue to grow as consumers choose its premium offering.

He then discussed the sharing of R&D and Psa learnings from New Zealand growers with stakeholders around the world, including Chile, to help improve the overall category.

"People from the New Zealand kiwifruit industry recently visited Chile with a key objective of building on this cooperation and improving the quality standard of fruit in the market," he said. 

ASOEX president Ronald Bown

Jager then defended the company and New Zealand kiwifruit growers, calling on Bown to back up his claims more fully. 

"Zespri is proudly owned by NZ kiwifruit growers and our structure complies with international WTO laws; the one finding of anticompetitive behaviour Mr Bown refers to in Korea was in 2011 and has been addressed," he said.

"Zespri condemns anti-competitive behaviour and is committed to acting fairly in all markets, abiding by local laws and regulations.

"Mr Bown has a standing invitation to inform us immediately of any specific matters so that we can investigate them.

"Over the past six years, Mr Bown has provided no detail to back up these allegations nor has there been any further finding of anticompetitive behaviour against Zespri anywhere in the world."

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