Seeka Kiwifruit Industries has announced a $12.7 million before tax profit for the nine months to 31 December 2010 – but all eyes in the kiwifruit industry remain locked firmly on PSA.

Seeka chief executive, Michael Franks, says the company’s improved financial performance reflected a focus on innovation and high yields on its long-term lease orcharding operations.

“It is a combination of improved efficiencies within the business and excellent performance and excellent performance and returns in our orcharding business particularly in the gold variety.”

Seeka, which produces one fifth of New Zealand/s annual kiwifruit crop, is also branching out with new business ventures selling avocados in New Zealand and Australia, and has a Te Puke-based laboratory service which tests for kiwifruit diseases such as PSA.

Michael Franks says that PSA is never far from the industry’s mind, it is still a threat to the industry and Seeka is cautious about the future.

“PSA  remains the elephant in the room. It is spreading in a wider area in Te Puke has now been confirmed as having the Italian-like isolate.

“At the moment only a relatively small area of orchards has been removed and so therefore that removal is not likely to impact upon our current harvest.
“But it still remains a threat to the industry and we are very cautious about our processes going forward regarding PSA.”