Zespri says record-high sales results show it has well and truly bounced back from an outbreak of the vine-killing disease Psa in 2011.
General manager Dave Courtney says the 19 percent growth in sales revenue is largely driven by Zespri vines coming into production in Italy.
"We were hit by the Psa incursion back in 2011, and the industry had to manage through that for two or three years, get back on its feet. What we've seen since then is strong growth for the last two or three years, as the industry comes out of that," he told Newshub.
The kiwifruit company sold fruit faster than ever before during the 2016-2017 season, and experienced huge growth in export markets.
"What we saw last year was our largest ever volume that we've sold, both out of New Zealand and our offshore growing locations; an increase in our total sales revenue by $2.2 billion; and also an increase in money returned back here in New Zealand, back to growers."
Mr Courtney says the company's aiming to double sales revenue by 2025.
Newshub.
