The first shipment of what is expected to be a record season of New Zealand-grown Zespri kiwifruit is now en route to Asia, with China set to try their red variety for the first time.
The fruit is aboard the MV Kakariki, the second of three new specialised reefer vessels built by Fresh Carriers to ship New Zealand-grown kiwifruit to Zespri's Asian markets, with the ship expected to complete its maiden voyage in early April.
Zespri's chief global supply officer Alastair Hulbert said MV Kakariki was the first of 57 planned charter reefer vessels under Zespri's shipping programme this season, up from the 49 charter vessels used last season.
This season will see five sailings to north Europe, 12 to the Mediterranean and 40 to Zespri's Asian markets. Zespri also expected to send around 18,000 containers of kiwifruit.
"We're expecting to supply around 177 million trays of kiwifruit this season, or approximately 700,000 tonnes, which will be a record-breaking crop of New Zealand grown Zespri kiwifruit," Hulbert said.