A 'fabulous' run of kiwifruit picking weather in Bay of Plenty has seen more than 10 million trays of green fruit and 5.5 million of gold come off the vines.
Country Life says it's estimated that about 20 million trays of gold will be exported this year, down from 30 million last year.
Some of the descrease is due to gold vines being killed or removed because of the PSA vine disease, but not all of it. The numbers are better than had been thought.
To prevent the spread of PSA, picking bins are being washed at the packhouse with a sanitiser before are sent out again.
Country Life says waterblasters and disinfectants are being used on picking equipment. And vines are quickly being sprayed with portective sprays after they have been picked.
