W ith just over 6 million trays of Early Start kiwifruit shipped out by mid-April, and near perfect conditions for harvest, the 2004 season was off to a flying start. Markets in Japan, Asia and East Asia began selling New Zealand fruit around April 26 and the overall quality was excellent. Much of the early Class 1 Zespri Gold had a pack out rate of 90 percent or better and the reject rate for Zespri Green was also very low. If the harvest goes without a hitch, the total 2004 crop of around 76 million trays will be the largest ever. But Bay of Plenty growers, already hit by spring frosts, were nervous about the continuing pattern of hot days, clear skies and cool nights during April, And with no significant rain since the end of February, they believed the size of Green kiwifruit would suffer - one industry spokesman estimated the average size could be almost two counts below January estimates.
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