In its newly issued company forecast, New Zealand's Kiwifruit marketer Zespri has reported increased payment forecasts and a 6% rise in the total payments. As a result of the improved gold returns, the company's forecast has surged by an impressive NZ$48 Million.

While the figures reported are a positive sign, the fact that these have been a result of steady growth in the Zespri gold returns, and not returns on Zespri Green and Green Organic, cannot be ignored. In fact, both Zespri Green and Green Organic have reported falls.

Zespri CEO Lain Jager explained, "It's important to note that this is only a forecast and we have a way to go in most markets. At this stage Green pricing and sales volumes are tracking as expected as we work our way to a positive close for the Green season".

Satisfactory results have been represented in the company's October forecast. This has come at a time when many of the world's food growers and marketers have been hit hard by the difficult market situations. The firm is optimistic of a more positive outcome in the coming times.