|
|
 |
|
Newly released data shows that Italy is firmly established as the world’s largest kiwifruit grower, its 430,000 tonne production representing 30% of the global total. New Zealand’s 365,000 tonnes puts it in second spot with 25% of the total, just ahead of Chile’s 238,000 tonnes (16%).
With the confirmation of 29 new cases of PsaV infection last week, half of all kiwifruit orchards in the country are now infected.
The deadly kiwifruit pathogen, Psa has been positively identified in the Coromandel, a previously unaffected region.
The new G3 variety of gold kiwifruit being promoted as a path to better manage the disease in New Zealand, is showing signs of being less resistant to the bacteria than first thought.
New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated (NZKGI) is consulting its lawyers over the findings of the independent report commissioned by the Ministry for Primary Industries into biosecurity failings around the Psa outbreak in the Bay of Plenty.
A report on the biosecurity aspect of the recent outbtreak of Psa-v disease in New Zealand has identified “major shortcomings” in the Ministry for Primary Industries’ biosecurity management.
Faced with declining world prices and the high costs of the Psa infection, New Zealand’s kiwifruit industry has suffered a further blow with the exposure of orchardists’ illegal use of antibiotics.
In spite of record volumes from New Zealand growers in the 2011/12 kiwifruit season just concluded, the price paid per tray to growers fell eight cents (1%) according to the latest data from kiwifruit marketers Zespri.
In the wake of the Queensland fruit fly scare currently locking down parts of Auckland, horticulturists are calling for the Government to improve border security by scanning all inbound luggage at airports.
The problems for New Zealand kiwifruit growers, faced with declining production in the wake of the Psa epidemic, may turn out to be a bonus for Chilean growers.
Two kiwifruit orchards in the Pukekohe region south of Auckland have tested positive for the kiwifruit disease Psa-V.
Confirmation that the supposed Psa symptoms found on kiwifruit growing in the Kerikeri district of the Bay of Islands have tested negative is a huge relief for growers in Northland.
foodnews sponsors
|
|
|
|
|
|
foodnews network
|
|
|
|
|
|
