NutriKiwi – Health central to kiwifruit producer’s marketing

New Zealand’s Hayward kiwifruit season is well underway, with Michael Leach of NutriKiwi saying the fruit quality is excellent, which coincides with consumer demand being strong as exports into Australia ramp up.

The Nutritious Kiwi Fruit Company (NutriKiwi) brings together green kiwifruit supply from the growers of three leading kiwifruit post-harvest operations in the Bay of Plenty in New Zealand, with over 50% of the industry being represented.

Leach says the main pack harvest shifted later than expected, with picking only recently wrapping up across the Bay of Plenty. The early-start fruit didn’t mature, so the harvest was basically delayed.

The delayed season came down largely to weather patterns and the unpredictability of fruit development. “It’s just weather, it’s weather and fruit, fruit deciding how it’s going to be for the year,” Leach says. “Mother Nature plays around with it each year.”

The later start to harvesting has not meant there’s anything wrong with the fruit, though, with both quality and taste proving to be exceptional.

“It’s a large fruit,” he says. “It’s an average size of a 30, which is trending on the larger size. I’ve been in Australia, over in the market a few times, and eating the fruit there, it’s eating beautifully,” he says.

Australia remains a key destination for NutriKiwi. The company has exported across the Tasman for many years and has operated under the NutriKiwi brand in the market since 2014. The company works closely with Premier Fresh/Fresh Produce Group and Franklin Bros to service key Australian customers, with Leach saying he appreciates the partnerships and long-term relationships in the market.

Consumer demand has remained strong, particularly for premium New Zealand fruit. “NutriKiwi fruit in general, when it comes on, the taste is there, and the Australian consumers love it,” Leach says.

The company targets premium retailers. “We do a lot with independent retailers. They understand and believe in quality produce as I do.

Marketing centres heavily on nutrition and digestive health benefits. “It’s an amazing fruit with twice the vitamin C versus oranges,” Leach says.

He points to a major milestone achieved by New Zealand’s kiwifruit industry last year. “Zespri attained the first-ever fresh fruit health claim approved by the European Commission. It’s one of only three health claims approved by the Commission in the last five years.”

The approved claim states that “consumption of green kiwifruit contributes to normal bowel function by increasing stool frequency”, based on eating two fresh green kiwifruit daily. Leach says the research reinforces what growers have long believed.

“Eating green kiwifruit regularly contributes to good digestive health,” he says. “The fibre and actinidin content in green kiwifruit lies at the heart of kiwifruit’s digestive benefits.”

As harvest concludes, attention now shifts fully to exports, with shipments expected to continue into late spring. As Leach says, “It’s the Kiwis, Aussie Love.”

For more information:
Michael Leach
The Nutritious Kiwi Fruit Company Limited
Tel: +64 27 8862299
www.nutrikiwi.comPublication date: Fri 26 Jun 2026

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