Some of the key figures involved in setting up the single desk for exporting kiwifruit will be celebrating its 25th anniversary in Bay of Plenty on Thursday.
One of those behind the single-seller system that evolved into Zespri was Leo Mangos, who at the time chaired the Labour Party's primary industry council committee and was a Bay of Plenty director of the Fruitgrowers Federation.
He says the single desk was established in March 1989 to turn around the fortunes of the industry and stop growers from going broke.
At the time, he says, there were seven exporters selling kiwifruit to the same markets and the only way they could compete was on price. The grower at the end of the line got what was left over and it was uneconomic.
Mr Mangos says they got the Labour government to agree to give them marketing regulations under the Primary Industry Act. An order in council was passed on 6 March 1989 and gazetted the following day.
He says the fact that there is a united industry now has enabled growers to get together and help deal with the vine-killing PSA disease.