Word among the vines is a commercial partnership is the next best step to try to protect our Sungold kiwifruit

In the mid 2010's a grower smuggled vines to China and sold them -- despite our farmers holding the licence for the variety.

The country's now producing millions of trays of the fruit.

Zespri asked growers whether they should continue to take legal action or negotiate a commercial partnership trial -- and that vote ends on Friday.

The company's Chief grower, industry and sustainability officer Carol Ward says a 12-month trial's looking like the most likely option.

She says the legal route has been ineffective so far, in terms of supporting any reduction in plantings, so the best advice at the moment is to work with the Chinese.