Zespri International is the marketing arm of Kiwifruit New Zealand. It is a grower owned co-operative and works on the lines of a co-operative body where it distributes the returns earned from the various markets to the farmers who grow the fruit. New Zealand will transfer the technology of growing Kiwifruit which is considered the most nutrient fruit in the world to India, according to Zespri International manager for new and developing market TV Balasubramaniam.

The ideal environment for growing this fruit, he said, was Solan in Himachal Pradesh. The company has already imported the fruit and introduced it in metro cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Calcutta and Bangalore. Zespri will work closely with Indian growers, ensuring thatthe Kiwifruit grown in the country attains the quality standards of Zespri.

The fruit is branded as Zespri Kiwifruit and is priced in the range of Rs 175 to Rs 250 per kilogramme. The company is setting up a storage facility with humidity control at a cost of Rs one crore.

The company expects sales of Rs 1 crore in India. It will initially invest Rs 20 lakh to manufacture 10 refrigerated fruit dispensing units, the prototype for which are being developed indigenously. Yupaa International, specialists in the Agri-produce business since 1979 will market the fruit through upmarket clubs, five-star hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and fruit vendors.