The cold snap the Western Bay of Plenty has experienced within the last week helped with the early harvest of Green kiwifruit, says New Zealand Kiwifruit Grower Incorporated president Peter Ombler.

Much of the Western Bay experienced one of the coldest days this year on Wednesday, March 17.
Peter says the cold temperatures did not damage kiwifruit because of the leaf cover that still protects them.
'The fruit starts to realise it's autumn and starts to mature, as opposed to carrying on growing. It gets things underway early.”
The first clearance to harvest Green kiwifruit was announced on March 18, which Peter says is earlier than last year.
'The season is underway and things are looking pretty good.”