All thanks to a huge investment venture which has recently been announced by kiwifruit marketer Zespri and the New Zealand Government, sales of the county's much popular fruit could be boosted by anywhere between $300 Million to $1 Billion.

Over the coming 7 years, as has been confirmed by the Research Science and Technology Minister Wayne Mapp, a total of $35.7 Million would be invested in a research and development program which will jointly be run by the world's largest kiwifruit marketer, Zespri, and the Crown Research Institute for Plant and Food Research.

For the sake of the research, which could mean much higher sales earnings from kiwi, Foundation for Research Science and Technology would send in a contribution worth $15.2 Million and Zespri would put in $20.5 Million. With the funds, the kiwi marketer as well as the Government is looking to upgrade the country's kiwifruit breeding program.

The joint venture, which will be the world's largest R&D program to study and explore new kiwifruit varieties, will result in surplus sales and revenue, when successful.