Fresh produce company Turners & Growers has harvested the first of a new green kiwifruit variety it says could become another big earner for the country - if it was allowed to export it.

The first trays of the variety Summer Kiwi, developed in Italy, have been picked on an orchard in Kerikeri.

Turners & Growers says commercial quantities should be available next season.

Managing director, Jeff Wesley, says they could export up to 12 million trays a year, giving growers a higher return than the standard Haywards green variety.

However, because of kiwifruit marketing regulations, sales of the new kiwifruit will be restricted to New Zealand and Australia unless Turners & Growers can get the nod from Zespri,  the industry's single desk exporter.

Turners also wants the right to export new gold and red kiwifruit varieties.

It’s challenging Zespri's export monopoly in the High Court in a case that will be heard later this year.