Zespri is late in developing new varieties, lagging behind global competitors that have several lucrative new varieties already on the shelves in world supermarkets, says Turners & Growers CEO Jeff Wasley.
After millions of dollars of taxpayer funding and years of development, Zespri is struggling to come up with a game-changing variety that stands out from other development being done around the world, says Jeff.

T&G claims its Red kiwifruit is putting pressure on Zespri.

His comments come after Zespri's announcement on Thursday that it is realising three new kiwifruit varieties (two Gold, one Green) for commercial production and has another two Red varities set to for on-orchard trials.
'Zespri's announcement today is just the first step and its varieties will have to compete with many others for the attention of global consumers who are demanding ‘breakthrough' products, not just technical tweaks to what they already buy,” says Jeff.
'In a highly competitive, deregulated global produce market, Turners & Growers and ENZA have consistently identified great fruit varieties and have got on with successfully commercialising them.”
It is Turners & Growers leadership on new kiwifruit variety development for New Zealand growers that has put pressure on Zespri to show results from the multi-million dollar taxpayer investment in Zespri's bid to create new fruit for market, says Jeff.
'We've got successful new varieties already proven with consumers. Enzared is the world's first commercialised Red kiwifruit, which sells at a 17 per cent premium to gold kiwifruit in the European market and the earlier, sweeter green Summerkiwi sells at a premium to Hayward.”
Turners & Growers' work on new varieties began in 2003 following its merger with ENZA (formerly the New Zealand Apple & Pear Marketing Board). ENZA is a leading player in the global pipfruit trade, developing and commercialising several of the world's most popular apple varieties including Braeburn, Royal Gala, Pacific Rose and the new Jazz and Envy apples. Turners & Growers pursued a new kiwifruit variety development programme using ENZA's development background.
'Enzared is just another example of our ability to identify ‘breakthrough' fruit and get on with commercialising it as we have with apples like Jazz and Envy,” says Jeff.
Turners & Growers has begun converting many of the company's Hayward vines to its new varieties in New Zealand. Enzagold is already in commercial production. The first Summerkiwi fruit were picked in Kerikeri this season and the variety will be in commercial production in New Zealand next year.
'We already know from the international success of our kiwifruit varieties that Enzagold, Summerkiwi and Enzared will bring combined export earnings into New Zealand of around $469 million, without a cent from the taxpayer.”