Zespri is going gold, releasing 1600 hectares of its gold kiwifruit variety SunGold over the next four years, beginning with 400 hectares in 2016.

The 400 hectare releases for the following years is dependent on the on the product's performance and future global demand.

'The SunGold variety was at the cornerstone of the industry's recovery from Psa,” says Zespri Chairman Peter McBride.

'It is clear now that not only has the variety carried the industry through the Psa crisis, it is the engine that will drive our industry's future growth.

'At today's returns for SunGold, should the full 1,600 hectares be released, it will mean more than $200 million in export revenue to New Zealand. Even before the decision to release more licence was made, SunGold was on track to earn $1 billion in sales revenue by 2017.”

In making the decision the Zespri board had to balance the fact that SunGold is still a relatively new product with the overwhelmingly positive customer and consumer feedback from the market, says Peter.

'We have adopted a prudent approach to making a release this year and signalling the further release of hectares based on how SunGold performs this season.”

The confidence in the variety comes from SunGold's excellent performance across Zespri's 56 country markets over the past two years, says Zespri Chief Executive Lain Jager.

'SunGold has generated tremendous excitement across our markets. For example, last year SunGold was voted by fruit consumers in Spain and Germany as the best new fruit product on the market.”

The mechanism and pricing for releasing the additional SunGold hectares is yet to be determined, says Lain. Both existing growers and new growers will have the opportunity to participate in the release.

With the first premium Zespri Kiwifruit of the 2016 season being picked and packed, Laine says Zespri is expecting similar volumes of Green to last season – around 77 million in 2015 – and another strong increase in the SunGold crop.

'Our industry earned nearly $2 billion in sales revenue last season and this is set to grow again in 2016.

'SunGold volumes have been steadily increasing as most vines were grafted in 2012 and are now reaching full production. SunGold volumes have increased steadily from 11 million trays in 2014 to 27 million last season and we're looking at another strong rise again in 2016. The post-harvest industry has invested many millions in infrastructure to deal with this increase in crop volumes.”

Zespri has chartered 68 refrigerated reefer vessels this season and another 10,500 containers to ship its fruit to 56 countries around the world this year. The MV Procyon is set to sail next week for Japan, which has long been Zespri's number one market for volume and value, and achieved record sales of 21 million trays last season, up 13 percent on the previous season's volume.

China is set overtake Japan as Zespri's largest country market by volume in 2016. Sales increased 50 percent in China last season to hit 18 million trays and Zespri is forecasting another strong increase in sales this season in this dynamic market.

There are currently 4,800 hectares of SunGold planted in New Zealand. SunGold also known as Gold3, is a kiwifruit variety commercialised in 2010 by Zespri after 10 years of development.

It was selected from the extensive Zespri and Plant & Food Research new variety programme for its qualities of high orchard yields, handling characteristics, storage and positive appeal to consumers determined through in-market sensory work over consecutive seasons.

SunGold's Psa tolerance combined with its commercial qualities has made it the cornerstone of the recovery pathway from Psa.