John Bostock challenges NZ kiwifruit export monopoly with new variety

New Zealand grower John Bostock has secured exclusive southern hemisphere rights to market the Haegeum gold kiwifruit, a Korean variety he claims is superior to existing varieties in taste, color, and disease tolerance. Bostock has signed an agreement with Korean partners to use Hawke’s Bay as a center for development trials.

The move signals a challenge to New Zealand’s current kiwifruit export regulations, which grant Zespri legal status as the sole exporter of fruit from the country, excluding Australia. Bostock described these regulations as “archaic” and “monopolistic,” suggesting that the industry structure may only change when growers face declining profits.

While development trials will begin in New Zealand, Bostock intends to develop commercial production in Australia, Chile, and South Africa to target premium markets in South Korea, Japan, and China. Internationally, the variety is also being developed in Europe through the French company Sofruileg, with plans to establish 1,000 hectares across France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain by 2030.