Incentive provided for growers keen to switch to G3 Gold

Kiwifruit operator Direct Management Services (DMS) have put a stake in the ground and is offering to bankroll orchardists who want to convert to the new G3 Gold Kiwifruit variety.

DMS director Paul Jones says it is putting up the money in a conversion lease opportunity and he believes it had the potential to be a profitable venture.

Gold kiwi fruit on average is worth six times more than its green counterpart.

A kiwifruit grower and manager for more than 20 years, Mr Jones converted some of his family orchard into G3 in 2010 with a successful and profitable first harvest in 2012. He converted more in 2011 and 2012 and has been impressed with the results.

"DMS is so confident in the future potential of this variety, we are going to spend our own money to help growers convert their orchards to G3."

He says Psa will never be fully eradicated and while green kiwifruit will continue to be profitable for productive growers, the 16A kiwifruit gold variety has no future in a Psa environment.

DMS is hosting an information evening on April 10 to provide further information to growers about the conversion programme, and the company will also share its own results growing the variety.

It's at the TECT Arena, Baypark, at Mount Maunganui.

For further information and to register, growers can visit www.dms4kiwi.co.nz.