Turners & Growers are going ahead with roll-out plans for Enzared kiwifruit, with plantings going ahead in both the northern and southern hemispheres.
Turners & Growers CEO Jeff Wesley has just returned from visiting Italy, France and China where it is establishing crops.

The fruit's striking red starburst centre, exotic flavour and creamy texture have earned it the title of most exciting new variety to hit international markets since Gold kiwifruit more than a decade ago.

By 2012 the company plans to have about 100 hectares of red kiwifruit growing in Italy and France to boost supply to the European market during its winter.
China is now in its third season of commercial production of the red kiwifruit at Dujiangjan in China's Sichuan province. Chinese demand for the fruit is so strong that export volumes of the fruit have been limited, says Jeff.
"Enzared's unique taste suits the Asian palate and the European market where it sold last year at a 17 per cent premium to Gold kiwifruit," says Jeff.
Turners & Growers is working to establish New Zealand as the southern hemisphere's growing hub for Enzared kiwifruit. There is a major propagation project underway at Kerikeri to produce Enzared plants and grafting material for next year when Turners & Growers will be grafting several thousand Enzared plants on its New Zealand orchards.
Jeff estimates the potential market for Enzared grown and exported from New Zealand is similar to Gold kiwifruit, which currently earns over $250 million annually for the New Zealand kiwifruit industry.
"The global market for this premium new variety is extremely strong. It is the type of rare 'break-through' new product that becomes the new benchmark in its category for supermarkets and consumers around the world."
Turners & Growers owns the global intellectual property rights to Enzared - the world's first commercialised red kiwifruit variety.

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