It is the fruit which launched New Zealand's most successful horticultural industry and in its day had a reputation for glamour and novelty but the green, hairy Hayward kiwifruit is no longer a big earner for those who grow it in New Zealand.

However, John Loughlin, Chairman of the Zespri Board of Directors told people at the company's annual general meeting that green kiwifruit remains the backbone of the industry, particularly now volumes of gold are dropping because of vine removal due to the disease Psa V.

However, green kiwifruit are not immune to the disease, nor to market pressures.

Foreign exchange and the high Kiwi dollar, increasing crop volumes and the price of oil had combined to create what John called a `head wind' for green growers, costing then $2.53 a tray. However, Zespri's marketing effort had managed to mitigate some of those effects by driving sales in developing markets and keeping prices up.

'Returns were 68 cents higher at $3.80 per tray in 2012.”

Zespri alone cannot solve the challenges of low green returns and growers needed to play their part.

'In all parts of the primary sector around the world, producers are recognizing and implementing improved productivity techniques and focusing on producing the items that the market values. 'Zespri will do our absolute best but growers must recognise that they have a vital part to play in ensuring their own economic survival.”

John says after the meeting some green growers were doing very well and the information and tools to increase fruit quality were readily available within the industry.

The fact remained that green kiwifruit was grown widely throughout the world and had become a commodity product, unlike Zespri's new varieties which have plant protection rights.

Those rights, which also exist for Hort16A gold fruit, mean Zespri can control crop volumes and marketing.