Kiwifruit marketer Zespri has lifted its projected payments to growers for the current export season.
Its latest forecast shows an increase of $13.5 million over the past season, or an average of 15 cents a tray for fruit and service payments.
It is also predicting a rise in payments for green and gold kiwifruit, over the previous forecast.
Zespri director of corporate and grower services Carol Ward says the improved forecast reflects better market returns and strong consumer demand, as well as foreign exchange gains from hedging activities.
