Zespri estimates that in the next campaign in the northern hemisphere it will reach a production close to 28 million trays, equivalent to about 99,000 tons of kiwis of the 'Zespri SunGold' variety, which represents an increase of 16% compared to the previous year, according to the company’s communication on the occasion of its presence at the international fair Fruit Attraction 2026.
The event, which takes place in Madrid, arrives at a key moment within the company's global supply calendar, when the New Zealand campaign enters its final stretch and preparations for the start of the season in the northern hemisphere intensify.
The firm has emphasized that these upward forecasts confirm the sustained progress of its supply program in the northern hemisphere and reinforce its integrated global supply model, designed to ensure availability of premium quality product throughout the year.
In this context, Italy consolidates as the main production hub of the company in the northern hemisphere. The projection for the country stands at 24 million trays (85,000 tons), which represents an 18% increase compared to 2025, driven by the expansion of the area in production and the good performance of the crops.
In the case of France, the expected production is set at 1.7 million trays (6,000 tons), stable levels in line with the previous campaign, despite the difficulties arising from adverse weather conditions throughout the year.
Alongside the yellow kiwi, the 'Zespri Green' range will continue to play a prominent role in the commercial strategy. Looking ahead to 2026, the company plans to acquire around eight million trays of this green variety, with the aim of maintaining a balanced assortment and ensuring continued presence on the shelves.
The Executive Officer Northern Hemisphere of Zespri, Nick Kirton, has emphasized that the program in the northern hemisphere constitutes "a fundamental part" of the global strategy to complement the New Zealand harvest. "The continued growth of the program reinforces our ability to respond to demand, expand market opportunities, and generate long-term value for the entire sector," he stated.
Kirton has also detailed that the planning is articulated through a "single integrated program," coordinating the fruit from both producing areas to sustain the regularity and quality of the supply. "Having production in different regions gives us greater flexibility and allows us to adapt to the changing needs of the market, while supporting the sustainable growth of the Zespri brand worldwide," he emphasized.
On the operational front, the company has faced disparate climatic episodes, with heat peaks in summer in Italy and isolated phenomena in France. However, the application of advanced agricultural management techniques and continuous investments have contributed to maintaining performance levels and quality standards.
The Head of Europe Supply Chain of Zespri, Matteo Lorenti, has pointed out that, although the high summer temperatures have oriented the size of the fruit towards smaller sizes than in the previous campaign, the total volume remains robust. "With the harvest already underway, our focus now shifts to the start of the commercial season and we expect to begin packaging and sales starting from week 43 for our European customers," Lorenti has stated.
"The dimension that our northern hemisphere program has reached this year provides us with a solid foundation to supply our main European markets, including Germany, Spain, Benelux, France, Italy, and Switzerland, while addressing selected export opportunities in the United Kingdom, North America, and Asia. In North America, which is currently our main export market, the demand for Zespri kiwi continues to grow and our goal is to keep driving this growth by leveraging the good performance recorded during the last seasons," Lorenti has explained.