The kiwifruit industry is well placed to handle the predicted significant increase in fruit volumes in coming seasons and there is cautious optimism among growers about their ability to manage the vine disease Psa-V. post-harvest operators say.

DMS - Director Paul Jones
Fruit quality has been fine, with reject rates only a little higher than the excellent 2012 results. Fruit was firm right to the end of harvest, and was picked at a suitable brix, so we are confident of another year of excellent storage 2013 saw a wetter May than normal and this delayed harvest at times.

There was less fruit packed in April as growers assessed the financial effects of smaller fruit size. However harvest was completed within the normal timeframe.
G3 (the new gold variety) performed very well, and is a pleasure to pack, with very low reject rates. G14 (the new green) was of small size, exacerbated by the change to weight bands in 2013. For G9, (another new gold) variability of colour development remains an issue, however the DMS inventory is not experiencing any issues with fruit shrivel at this stage.
There was no shortage of staff for the harvest for DMS. DMS has finished packing, as we have no bin-storage or controlled atmosphere storage.
There is more optimism about the future. Green growers are buoyed up by last year's excellent payment and good prospects for 2013 and beyond. However, many are facing lower crop volume in 2013. There is cautious optimism in regard to Psa, for both green and G3, however many G14 growers are re-evaluating the potential of this variety
The increase in fruit harvested for 2014 could be as much as 20 per cent, given a more normal season for green and a dramatic increase in G3 volume. We are confident of our ability to handle an increase of this magnitude - staffing is not an issue for DMS, and we have the plant capacity. We look forward to the increases of 2014 and beyond.
DMS wishes to thank our loyal customers and hardworking staff for their efforts over the 2013 harvest.
East Pack Chief Executive Officer Tony Hawken
This year's fruit had the highest Taste Zespri Grade and dry matter levels ever.
It's early days to comment on how fruit will store, but the indications are that it should store well.
The 2013 season was very challenging. Once the drought broke, as usually happens, the weather quickly made up for lack of rain. Psa affected gold in the eastern Bay of Plenty more than was expected.
G9 is still proving to be a challenge. There is a wide variability between growers.
We had no problems finding enough staff during harvest. Packing from controlled atmosphere storage starts this month for East Pack.
There more optimism within the industry. With the long hot and dry summer the G3 variety grew very well with little evidence of Psa. Growers were a lot more proactive in canopy management and crop protection than last autumn.
It is hard to say how much the crop will increase next season. Approximately 700ha of green being cut over to G3 will reduce overall volumes. There will be a big focus on lifting orchard productivity for the 2104 season and the one after so we are likely to see a big lift in volumes for 2015.
The industry in a position to cope with growth, especially in terms of skilled staff, when it eventuates.
Seeka Kiwifruit Industries – CEO Michael Franks
Fruit was smaller this season. Green, average fruit size was 35.08 compared to 34.2 in 2012. Taste was also higher this season with the average TZG being 0.64 compared to 0.61 last year.
Fruit quality delivered to the Packhouse was exceptional with average rejects being 9.14 per cent, which was slightly less than in 2012. In the coolstore we are prepared for a variable outcome due to the extremely dry summer and a wet harvest. Inventory management will the key to our success.
The main season packing is complete and bin store packing is to commence in July
Clearly the extreme drought we endured had a negative effect on fruit size. Psa infection, particularly over the time leading into flowering, created flower abortion ranging from light to extreme in some areas resulting in yields of only 3,500 Green trays per hectare. Yet in other areas, particularly in Te Puke, we had crops ranging from 13,000 to an all-time high yield of 17,500 Green trays per hectare.
New varieties, in particular G3, have performed well. Some growers are still apprehensive as we have just come out of the driest summer in some 70 years which is not conducive to the spread of Psa.
Seeka complimented its local New Zealand workforce with overseas workers, both those on holiday and RSE schemes.
Growers are resilient but it would be fair to say that the uncertainty of Psa continues to create concern.
In 2014 we are expecting a reduction in industry volume due to the grafting over from Hayward to G3 (Sungold) and the new production of G3 is unlikely to offset the cut out.