Zespri is dismissing Turners & Growers' announcement it is going to carry out large planting of its red kiwifruit variety.
Zespri calls T&G a "struggling apple exporter" and a one per cent player in the New Zealand kiwifruit industry, currently owned by Guinness Peat Group.

Director of corporate and grower services for Zespri, Carol Ward, says T&G's announcement that it plans to sell a new kiwifruit variety is nothing new, and something that will be done at T&G's own commercial risk and the risk of participating growers - which is of concern to Zespri.
It appears to be nothing more than the latest step in T&G Chairman Tony Gibbs' political campaign to break up the New Zealand kiwifruit industry, and timed to steal the thunder of the Zespri board's own new varieties announcement later this week, says Carol.
"It is well known throughout the industry that this week Zespri will make commercialisation decisions about whether new varieties of kiwifruit should start to be grown this winter for commercial production, and about our growth plans through this decade and beyond," says Carol.
"Over the last 10 years we have conducted extensive orchard, storage, distribution and taste tests which will inform that decision. There has also been consultation with major customers and retail outlets, particularly in Japan, along with careful consideration of how best to build our Zespri brand portfolio.
"It is vital the industry chooses carefully. The last thing the New Zealand kiwifruit industry needs is a proliferation of substandard cultivars which would simply confuse consumers and drive down prices and export returns."
She warns any grower considering grafting new varieties must be fully informed as to the commercial viability of the variety and the likely returns.

Read T&G's statement here.