A failed bid by Zespri to tackle illegal SunGold plantings in China has been met with mixed reaction by the kiwifruit industry.
Zespri owns the rights to SunGold but believes there are at least 5500ha of unauthorised plantings in China. File photo Photo: RNZ / Jane Patterson
On Friday it was announced Zespri had not gained the support needed to proceed with a commercial trial, which would involve working with some unauthorised SunGold growers in China.
Zespri owns the rights to SunGold but believes there are at least 5500ha of unauthorised plantings in China.
New Zealand kiwifruit growers were recently asked to vote on the proposal. Nearly 71 percent supported the plan, narrowly missing the 75 percent threshold required.
Tauranga grower David Jensen, from Puketiro Orchard, said he had been in favour of the trial because the industry had to find a way around an issue that was not going to go away.
Jensen said most of the growers he had spoken to had been supportive and it was difficult to understand what alternative solution there was.
"China is such a large market for us both in terms of volume and value, that we can't walk away from it. So we actually have to find a way to participate in the marketplace and I guess reduce the risk. So to that extent, I was reasonably comfortable of what's being proposed."
Seeka is New Zealand's largest kiwifruit grower. Company chief executive Michael Franks said it had voted against the proposal because there were too many risks.
The trial proposed by Zespri was small and would not really achieve anything, Franks said.
"There's a great risk to the brand itself and the opportunity to lose a lot of intellectual property in how you actually handle that fruit. So, you know, I think that from our perspective, the risks, in our own opinion, outweigh the benefit."
Franks expected Zespri would repackage its proposal and present it to growers again in the future.
New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated chief executive Colin Bond said the strong voter turnout showed this was an issue that growers were very engaged in.
He said growers had received a lot of information ahead of the vote, which had helped them make an informed decision.
"I think we all understand how critical this is for for where we go next, as an industry.
"So the outcome is the outcome. The important thing from here is to respect the respective process and respect the growers' views and move on together as an industry."