Transport of reject fruit

Although covering loads of reject fruit in a Recovery region is no longer a KVH requirement, the risk of loose plant material and fruit falling out during transit must still be managed. Plant material present the highest risk of spreading Psa and other pathogens, and fruit lost in transit could possibly contribute to the development of wild kiwifruit plantings if seed germinates.

The truck in this photo was observed travelling on the main road with a fairly high load of reject kiwifruit and had kiwifruit leaf material flying out (see circled area, indicating one of a number of leaves observed falling from the load). Bins of reject fruit should be checked to ensure there is no obvious plant material in them and trucks should be loaded so that fruit cannot be lost in transit. Please could all post-harvest and trucking contractors ensure that loads of fruit for stock feed (and being transported to kiwifruit processors) are managed appropriately to avoid a return to compulsory covering of loads.