Zespri [3] has approved the commercialization of a new red-fleshed kiwifruit variety, Red80, to keep the company’s RubyRed kiwifruit [4] available for a longer period.

Sales of RubyRed kiwifruit have doubled this year, with more than 3 million trays sold across key markets, including New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, China, South Korea and the United States. Mainland China is the brand’s largest single market, with over 1 million trays sold.

Red-fleshed kiwifruit naturally have a shorter storage life than green and gold varieties. Currently, Zespri has an eight-week sales window for RubyRed. Red80 reaches optimal harvest maturity about three to four weeks after Red19, following the same standards. It is generally larger and firmer and stores for longer. Trials have reportedly shown that Red80 performs well in cultivation, transport and market conditions. Both Red19 and Red80 will be sold under the RubyRed brand, allowing the product to remain available to consumers for longer and strengthen brand recognition.

Red19 was commercialized in 2019, and RubyRed kiwifruit launched in 2022. Since then, the product has expanded into 13 markets worldwide. Research conducted by Zespri shows that about 30% of RubyRed consumers are new to the brand, indicating that the variety attracts more people to red-fleshed kiwifruit and creates opportunities for other Zespri products.

Red80 was naturally bred through a joint program with New Zealand’s Plant & Food Research, now part of the New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science. In 2021, Zespri and the institute established the Kiwifruit Breeding Centre to accelerate the development of new varieties. Zespri currently has 20 kiwifruit and hardy kiwiberry varieties in pre-commercial trials.

Zespri’s chief executive officer Te Brake confirmed that, beginning in April 2026, 100 hectares of Red80 planting licenses will be available to growers, including a 50-hectare bidding pool for existing Red19 growers. Red80 is expected to reach commercial-scale production by 2028.

Image: Zespri

This article was translated from Chinese. Read the original article [5].