The artistry behind quality kiwi goods

“Kiwi” means many things in New Zealand. A bird, the nickname of the locals and a very distinctive fruit that almost every dessert in the country has. Let's focus on the fruit. Although kiwi is now a regular on supermarket shelves, it wasn’t always so. Kiwi originated in the Far East and has been cultivated in China for many centuries. It wasn’t until the early 20th century that the kiwifruit reached the shores of New Zealand, when Isabel Fraser brought back a few seeds from one of her travels. Its original name is yang tao. However, the real twist came in 1959, when the fruit adopted the name kiwi in homage to New Zealand's national bird. It may sound strange, but both the fruit and the bird have a lot in common: they are small, brown and furry.

A quality kiwi

Most kiwifruit comes from New Zealand. 2,700 kiwifruit farmers produce about 3.7 billion kiwifruit per year. The fruit is sold in 55 countries. The secret of quality kiwifruit? Most of New Zealand's kiwifruit plantations are located in the Bay of Plenty on the North Island. This enclave enjoys an ideal climate for the delicious and healthy kiwifruit to flourish and grow: plenty of sunshine, sufficient rainfall, cool in winter and no frost in spring. In addition, the soil is volcanic and very fertile. Kiwis are also grown in Europe. There are growers in Italy (especially in the Emilia-Romagna and Lazio regions) and in the southern fringe of France (Corsica and Aquitaine), where the climate is also warm with mild winters. Kiwis are also cultivated in Australia, Japan, South Korea and Chile. The Zespri company is a major contributor to these good results, as the kiwifruit industry is the largest in New Zealand's horticultural sector in both volume and export value. Zespri's leading market position is the result of strategic investment, innovative marketing and product development. Zespri has partnered with growers in the northern hemisphere (Europe and Asia) to ensure year-round supply and invests heavily in research and development to continually develop new varieties.

How to choose a good kiwi

Before eating them, gently press the whole fruit with your fingers. It has to feel still turgid, but also give a little, like the flesh in the palm of your hand. If it is too hard, it will be too acidic, so put it to wait next to a banana or avocado to speed up the ripening process. Kiwi combines well with blueberries, apples, red fruits, tropical flavors (coconut, mango, banana) and dairy products such as yogurt or cheese. It is also exquisite with honey. It goes well with white and dark chocolate in sweets. It can be cooked to make jam or incorporated into puddings or cakes perfectly.

My Deals 365 brings you all the discount catalogs from your favorite stores in New Zealand. If you go to this wonderful country, enjoy the kiwifruit in all its varieties. It’s fresh and combines very well with other flavors.