Growers are reminded that unpicked kiwifruit must be removed from vines by 1 July.

Unpicked fruit can greatly exacerbate the amount of wild kiwifruit plants establishing in nearby areas of native bush or exotic forestry, as fruit ripening over winter months provides a food source for birds such as white-eyes.

Birds spread the seed through their droppings, together with a small fertiliser package, and a proportion of this seed can readily germinate.

Between 2002 and 2012 contractors controlled an average of 11,000 wild vines per year in the Bay of Plenty region.

Unmanaged kiwifruit vines, including those with unpicked fruit, may also be a potential host for plant disease organisms.

There may be an increased amount of unharvested kiwifruit this season if fruit fails to meet industry export standards.

Unpicked fruit needs to be dropped to the ground and mulched.

Under the National Psa-V Pest Management Plan (NPMP) it is a requirement to remove all unpicked fruit from vines by 1 July each year. After this date KVH will follow-up reports of orchards with unpicked fruit with the orchard owners and post-harvest companies.