California Hayward kiwis continue to ship and are expected to until the first week of August. "We've had exceptional quality for the end of the season," says Al Bates, president of Sun Pacific Shippers, noting that the company has invested significantly into controlled atmosphere and ethylene control technology for storage. "We also have a ranch that we planted a few years back up in the north of Sacramento. That is coming into full production and it's really doing very well. That's where 100 percent of the fruit we have remaining in storage is coming from."
This is turning out to be a longer season than 2024's for California kiwi fruit, which last year shipped until about mid-July. "Because of the higher quality of fruit in storage, we're getting a lot higher pack outs at the end of the season–they're higher than we've ever seen," says Bates.
Demand is responding accordingly. Bates says over the last four weeks, it's moved between 15-20 percent more per week. Though moving into June, that may decrease given imported kiwi fruit is arriving as are other summer crops.
Pricing difference
In terms of pricing, much of Sun Pacific's programs are contract pricing and are down compared to last year by almost 10 percent.
Looking ahead, following California's finish, the company will bring in Chilean fruit to fill the gap on organic and conventional fruit. Chile's crop is down compared to last year because of disease pressure and other concerns while New Zealand, which largely ships gold kiwi fruit, has increasingly larger crops annually. "New Zealand's volume will more than offset any decline in the Chilean supply so we'll have imported fruit until late next fall or early winter," says Bates. Shipments of imported red kiwis will also be finished ahead of the California red kiwi season.
Meanwhile, Sun Pacific will likely be having domestic kiwi crop estimates some time in late July.
For more information:
Al Bates
Sun Pacific Shippers
Tel: +1 (213) 612-9957
https://sunpacific.com/