Zespri, New Zealand’s kiwi exporter, is considering paying Vietnamese farmers to grow the fruit, a prospect that has upset fruit packer Turners & Growers, according to a report from the website of the New Zealand Herald.

Zespri is looking into licensing farmers to grow the fruit during New Zealand’s off-season, said Simon Limmer, Zespri’s general manager of global supply, according to the newspaper. Growers in Japan and South Korea already have licenses.

Turners & Growers objects to the idea that Zespri may get some government aid for the project, which would fall under the nation’s foreign aid efforts. Turners & Growers has long fought Zespri’s monopoly on kiwi exports and sees the project as one more way that the exporter benefits from government advantage.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully, whose office overseas aid programs, said the horticultural and agriculture sectors were encouraged to reach out to developing nations, according to the website. He said any aid would be monitored so that the recipient nation benefits.

Source: www.freshfruitportal.com