A name change is in the air for a red variety of kiwifruit.

Zespri has confirmed that its current red kiwifruit will be named Zespri RubyRed Kiwifruit for the first year of sales of commercial volumes in the upcoming 2022 season.

Commercialised in December 2019 and initially marketed as Zespri Red during the sales trials, Zespri RubyRed Kiwifruit will be available in commercial volumes for the first time in 2022 in New Zealand, Singapore, Japan and China, with volumes expected to increase from 70,000 trays in 2021 to around 250,000 trays in 2022.

Zespri chief growth officer Jiunn Shih says the new name better reflects the fruit’s properties and had tested well in consumer research.

“Consumers have been attracted to the fruit’s unique colour profile and berry-like taste and we’ve been delighted with their feedback,” says Jiunn.

“The consumer response to our limited sales trials over the last three seasons have exceeded expectations and suggest Zespri RubyRed Kiwifruit is able to attract new and younger consumers into the kiwifruit category, complementing our offering of the world’s best kiwifruit.

“As we’ve moved towards establishing commercial volumes of our red kiwifruit, we’ve been exploring names that better embody the essence of the fruit, and which we hope resonate with our consumers.

“Throughout our consumer research, Zespri RubyRed Kiwifruit has remained at the top of consumer’s preference list – not only because it reflects the rare and precious nature of the fruit but the ruby element gives consumers an immediate sense of that alluring red colour.”

Jiunn says consumer research was undertaken in a number of markets, and also took into account the need for the new name to translate across different languages given the fruit’s broad appeal in Asian markets.

The name is in the process of being trademarked in Zespri’s key markets.

“The shorter shelf-life of Zespri RubyRed Kiwifruit compared to Zespri SunGold and Zespri Green has meant that we’ve prioritised our Asian markets given the shorter marine transit times,” says Jiunn.

“We know there’s strong demand for the fruit in our other markets, including in Europe, and we’re continuing growing trials in our Northern Hemisphere production locations to determine the commercial potential of a red cultivar in different environments.

“We remain committed to providing the world’s leading portfolio of fresh, high quality and safe kiwifruit and we’re looking forward to even more consumers being able to try Zespri RubyRed Kiwifruit in the years ahead,” says Jiunn.

Zespri RubyRed Kiwifruit will be available to consumers in New Zealand, Singapore, Japan and China from around March until late May next year.

About Zespri Red, soon to be known as Zespri RubyRed Kiwifruit

The red kiwifruit come through Zespri’s world-leading new varieties breeding programme, run in partnership with Plant & Food Research in 2019.

It went been through an extensive trial process to show the fruit not only tastes delicious, but has the ability to perform to Zespri’s high expectations, from the orchard right through the supply chain.