Kiwifruit growers are the most positive ever seen at the start of the season, according to the head of the kiwifruit grower group New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers.

Chief executive Colin Bond says it has been a great growing season, and apart from a few orchards still impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle, most will return to making money this harvest.

Zespri has just released its forecast per hectare returns for the fruit being harvested now, and they were well up on last year, which for many was unprofitable after an out-of-season frost ruined flowers or young fruit.

Green growers have been told to expect between $75,000 and $91,000/ha compared to the past season of $64,930/ha.

The forecast price range for gold growers was $145,000 to $166,000, compared to the past season of $143,537/ha.

"This could be close to record returns for green growers, it won't be a record return for gold. But certainly it's a return to profitability, which would be welcomed from growers."

Bond cautions it's still early days in the harvest season, but signs are very good.

"Two things drive returns to growers. One is the price in market, and secondly the yields that a grower can achieve on orchard.

"So last year prices were high, but yields were low. And this year we're hoping for a combination of both high yields and high market prices, which should deliver great overall returns."

The first shipment of gold kiwifruit recently left New Zealand, destined for Asia, and Bond said this should be the start of a strong season for the entire industry.

Meanwhile, he says labour issues have been resolved with good number of back-packers coming into the country.

In the forecast price release, Zespri CEO Dan Mathieson says it has been great to host many major retailers in New Zealand in recent months, "sharing the strong demand their consumers have for our fruit".

He says with increased volumes, Zespri is looking forward to meeting that demand.

Zespri expects to export around 190 million trays of kiwifruit this season.

Mathieson says it's positive to see better growing conditions this year, but commented the downside risks included more challenging market conditions and the impact of unfavourable foreign exchange movements with the Japanese yen, which is expected to particularly impact Organic, Sweet Green and RubyRed categories, which have a higher proportion of sales in Japan.

-RNZ.