What are the trends, challenges and growth opportunities in the organic kiwi market? Eosta's kiwi specialist Koen van Velthoven shares his views. From increasing demand and seasonal bridging to sustainable packaging and varieties like SunGold and RubyRed - this is his take on kiwis.
How do you see the development of the organic kiwi market in Europe?
The demand for organic kiwis is clearly increasing in Europe. People are becoming more conscious about healthy food and are paying growing attention to sustainability. I expect the organic segment to grow significantly in the coming years. 
Which kiwi variety do you see growing most strongly in popularity - and why?
The golden kiwi, because it has an even sweeter taste than the traditional green kiwi.
How is Eosta responding to the trend towards sustainable packaging?
Our motto is 'The best packaging is no packaging'. However, retail often asks for packaging for organic, to clearly distinguish it from conventional. For this, we offer sustainable alternatives such as Natural Branding and plastic-free stickers.
What do you think are the biggest challenges in sourcing from overseas?
The biggest challenge is availability: perfectly matching overseas supplies to the end of the European season.
How do you see the future of SunGold and RubyRed?
I expect SunGold to become the standard. RubyRed is likely to remain a niche product because of its higher price, with no real distinctive flavour in return.
What developments do you see in the B2B market for organic kiwis?
Zespri is working to plant more in Europe, thereby closing the supply gap between Europe and New Zealand.
