Zespri prepared to put up a fight over lookalike variety

SunGold kiwifruit on the vine. (Image: Zespri)

Tue, 15 Jul 2025

Zespri is digging in for the long haul in a battle with a local kiwifruit breeder, which developed a variety the exporter believes closely mirrors its SunGold fruit.The dispute centres on a variety cultivated by Russell Baker, who died earlier this year, known as “E2”.Zespri believes E2 is “very similar” to G3, the plant used to grow its SunGold fruit.The grower-owned exporter is concerned, based on DNA testing, that Baker’s fruit is either G3 or has been bred from it, making it “indistinct” and potenti...

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