The number of kiwifruit orchards struck down with PSA continues to grow.

Latest figures have 13 confirmed cases, and 16 orchards quarantined.

Industry groups and biosecurity officials have met again to discuss their next move, and are yet to rule eradication in or out as a solution.

Instead a policy of ‘aggressive containment’ will be pursued, giving growers instructions on how to best respond to the crisis.

Zespri Marketing Manager Carol Ward says MAF Biosecurity is still deciding if eradication is possible.

“MAF Biosecurity are looking at the options for feasible eradication."

"Not just technical feasibility, technical eradication, saying to trading partners that we appear PSA free, but also the economic impact of that, what the cost of that action would be."

Ms Ward says possible compensation for affected growers depends on the feasibility of eradication.

"We need to work through that detail. It will be quite different if MAF decide that we can have an eradication strategy for New Zealand.

"If that’s the case then there are MAF systems to manage that, but if it’s us managing it by ourselves as an industry, we view that as a partnership with Government.”

One of the growers to first be identified as having PSA has begun clearance on his property as vines develop advanced symptoms such as dying shoots and red ooze weeping from plants.

Russell West of Te Puke has cut 4000 square meters of vine out of his orchard with MAF approval.