Diseases and weather hazards are just some of the difficulties French kiwi production, like other sectors, has had to deal with. For Jean-Baptiste Pinel, managing director of Primland, this negative situation has actually forced kiwi producers to evolve towards something positive, while transforming the kiwi market.
Jean-Baptiste Pinel, managing director of Primland at Fruit Attraction 2023. Primland began harvesting kiwis almost 15 days ago, and is due to start marketing at the beginning of November.
Diversification and increased volumes
“The sector has experienced a number of technical difficulties,” explains Jean-Baptiste Pinel, referring to kiwi bacterial blight (PSA), root asphyxia and various meteorological phenomena. “These are factors that we have had to take into account in our technical itineraries, and for which growers have had to find solutions,” including the search for new resistant varieties and diversification into yellow and red kiwis.
According to Jean-Baptiste Pinel, the French kiwi sector has been able to bounce back and now offers a wider range of products to clients and consumers. “This development has also led to a 15% increase in volumes. At Primland, we have been working on these issues for about fifteen years. We have reset our planting programs and reorganized our orchards. As a result, Oscar Gold® yellow kiwis now account for almost 10% of our volumes. Oscar Red Passion® red kiwis, the latest addition to the range, will have to wait a few more years before reaching more substantial marketable volumes.”
A segment for every consumer
This diversification is a hit with consumers. While green is still the benchmark in the kiwi range, the yellow variety is already well-established on the shelves and continues to gain market shares, appealing to green lovers and new consumers alike. The red kiwis, on the other hand, have been on the market since 2021 and belong to a very different segment: the high-end range.
For more information:
Olivier Pouilhes
Primland
Phone: +33 (0)5 58 90 09 95
[email protected]
www.primland.fr