The first export shipment of kiwifruit for the new season leaves Tauranga this weekend.
The consignment of 570,000 trays of gold and green kiwifruit will head to Japan, and the first shipment to Europe will follow in a week.
Kiwifruit marketer Zespri said the fruit will come from Gisborne and Bay of Plenty, where picking has just started.
Supply chain general manager Sally Gardiner said export shipments are expected to be down from 102 million trays last year to about 90 million this year, due to the impact the vine killing disease PSA has had on gold kiwifruit production.
Zespri is expecting prices to be at least in line with last year.
