OPAC kiwifruit growers of the new Gold cultivars, G3 and G9, are looking at promising returns this year, according to OPAC managing director Craig Thompson.

Craig says although the post-PSA environment is leaner, OPAC is optimistic about the potential shown by the new Gold varieties, especially G3.

Orchard manager Warren Bridges.

This month's crop estimates, which are based on fruit counts at all OPAC orchards, have far exceeded expectations.

'This year, we expect to pack over four million trays in total across all varieties and that's well up from last year's low of 3.4 million. Over the next three years, we anticipate even greater yields as the new grafts mature, and so we'll invest in plant, machinery and people to enable expansion.”

Last year, despite Psa, OPAC growers achieved industry leading orchard gate returns (OGRs) of $13.51 per tray for G9 and $13.52 per tray for G3.

Craig commented that the two new Gold cultivars are far more temperamental than their predecessors.

'Over the past three years we've gained a huge amount of experience with these varieties and we now know that they require careful treatment in the orchard and during harvest, packing and cool storage.”

Technical manager for OPAC, Chris Anstis, reported that early fruit size and dry matter monitoring data indicated a greater proportion of large high-quality fruit, which will generate better returns for growers.

'If good growing conditions continue, we are very likely to see further increase in the number of trays. G3 and G9 fruit look very big and dry matter, which determines flavour, is tracking the same if not slightly ahead of this time last year.

'Consumers are going to have some lovely fruit to eat.”

Chris is also pleased with fruit size in Hayward (a green cultivar) and said that the variety was almost back to normal after last season, when drought and the influence of Psa resulted in smaller fruit.

Crop monitoring across all kiwifruit varieties in March will give OPAC growers more accurate crop estimate, fruit size and quality data.