Misfortune for kiwifruit growers battling frost in Chile has benefitted growers in New Zealand with prices received for the green variety improving markedly.
Zespri has released its latest payout forecast for the year and the returns per tray of green kiwifruit has risen by about 40 cents to $5.71.
Chief executive Lain Jager said the lift in price means that for the first time green kiwifruit growers will get a forecast return of more than $50,000 per hectare.
A spokesperson for the group of kiwifruit growers looking to sue the Government says they have been subjected to a vicious campaign by Zespri and groups aligned with the marketer.
Kiwifruit marketer Zespri denies it is using scare tactics to put people off a planned class action against the Ministry for Primary Industries over the Psa disease outbreak in 2010.
A class action lawsuit against the Government by kiwifruit growers has been delayed as the group behind the legal action makes sure its position is watertight.
The push by Zespri into China's social media network has exceeded expectations. A video it produced to promote its sungold kiwifruit has had more than 25 million hits.
Growers of a newly developed kiwifruit, which has raised concerns over its commercial viability, have more time to decide whether to change to a different variety.
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