Zespri boosts red kiwifruit portfolio with new Red80 variety
New Zealand's Zespri will commercialize a new red kiwi variety. The fruit is Red80 and will come to extend the RubyRed™ sales season.
The company said RubyRed™ volumes doubled this year, with more than three million trays sold in key markets such as New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, Mainland China, Taiwan, South Korea, and the United States.
“Today’s decision is another example of the ongoing work our industry undertakes to meet the needs of our global consumers and deliver strong value to our growers,” said Jason Te Brake, CEO of Zespri.
The executive explained that the kiwifruit category is increasingly competitive, and customers want a constant supply of the company’s entire portfolio, including Zespri Green, Zespri SunGold™, and Zespri RubyRed™.
“That’s why we are excited to incorporate a new red kiwifruit variety that extends our RubyRed™ sales season," he added.
Growing Zespri's red kiwifruit portfolio
Red kiwifruit has a shorter shelf life than green and gold kiwifruit, resulting in a shorter sales window of around eight weeks.
"Red80 harvests a bit later than our existing Red19 cultivar and stores for longer, with the two varieties working together to keep Zespri RubyRed™ in front of consumers for longer, building awareness, encouraging habitual purchase, and lifting demand," Te Brake said.
After Red19 hit the shelves in 2019, commercial volumes of Zespri RubyRed™ followed in 2022. The variety has embarked on a market expansion journey, currently spanning 13 markets.
RubyRed™ kiwifruit stands out for its vibrant red color, a sweet flavor with notes of red berries, and nutritional benefits that differentiate it from SunGold and Green.
A bet on varietal innovation
Red80 was developed naturally by the Kiwifruit Breeding Centre (KBC), a joint venture between Zespri and Plant & Food Research, created to accelerate the delivery of new varieties.
Zespri currently has 20 varieties of kiwifruit, kiwiberries, and male plants in pre-commercial trials from the KBC.
Te Brake confirmed that in 2026, growers will have access to nearly 250 acres of the Red80 license, including an initial allocation for Red19 production.
“We’re looking forward to continuing to work with growers to provide our consumers with even more great-tasting and high-quality red kiwifruit, with Red80 expected to reach commercial volumes in 2028, helping deliver strong value for all of our RubyRed Kiwifruit growers,” Te Brake concluded.
*All images courtesy of Zespri
Related stories
Zespri celebrates record-breaking 2025 kiwifruit season with largest crop yet
Zespri's driving kiwifruit higher in the US fruit bowl with new varieties and brand engagement
Subscribe to our newsletter
