Zespri Kiwifruit has announced the arrival of the first ships containing Zespri Kiwifruit. New Zealand had a great growing season, with hot weather and adequate rainfall moving into a cool fall, perfect for the great kiwifruit Zespri is known for. The fruit landed on the West Coast of North America last week and is arriving this week on the East Coast.
With the kick-off to the 2014 season, Zespri concurrently announced the first ever self-substantiated health claim for a fresh fruit product, under the Food Standards Australia-New Zealand (FSANZ) Standard for Nutrition, Health and Related Claims. The claim states: “Zespri® Green Kiwifruit can contribute to normal bowel function,” which is a giant leap forward in helping to substantiate digestive comfort claims, as well as scientifically proving functional efficacy. Research shows that the more consumers know about the health benefits of kiwifruit, the more they will consume. Thus the claims proves a great first step in Zespri’s longer-term strategy of procuring an insightful, science-supported claim in other markets worldwide.
In addition to the first self-substantiated health claim, Zespri’s newest variety, SunGold, will also be available in greater volumes this year in the North American market for 2014. An attractive, larger kiwifruit with a delicate texture inside a smooth skin and ranked highly in sensory testing, Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit will appeal to fans of both Zespri Gold and Green Kiwifruit.
“We’re excited for the opportunity to reach more consumers this year in the US and Canada markets. This is a fantastic piece of fruit,” reports Michele Hoard, Zespri’s Marketing Manager for North America. “In conjunction, we are initiating ongoing work to educate customers and consumers that this is another premium variety from Zespri they can depend on.”
