{"id":65002,"date":"2023-06-15T10:46:49","date_gmt":"2023-06-14T22:46:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.farmersweekly.co.nz\/?p=65002"},"modified":"2023-06-15T11:45:48","modified_gmt":"2023-06-14T23:45:48","slug":"zespri-ceo-holds-high-hopes-for-better-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.farmersweekly.co.nz\/markets\/zespri-ceo-holds-high-hopes-for-better-times\/","title":{"rendered":"Zespri CEO holds high hopes for better times"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>\n

Zespri CEO Dan Mathieson is hoping what has been a year to forget is now firmly in the industry\u2019s rear-view mirror as the sector moves through the new season, with strong market prospects buoying hopes for better times ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking at Mystery Creek Fieldays, Mathieson freely acknowledged the challenges the sector has faced on almost every front over the past year<\/strong><\/a>, kicking off with last year\u2019s damaging labour supply shortage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe shortages resulted in significant quality issues, which came on top of multiple weather events,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poor harvesting standards resulted in fruit manifesting damage weeks after harvest and prompted two major write-downs in crop values, partially attributable to the labour issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Mathieson said the sector had responded to the sharp lessons of last season, with greater vigilance from harvest onwards resulting in a higher quality fruit reaching market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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