About Kiwi Fruit

Kiwi is a nutritious fruit that is fairly new to the United States. Kiwi, also known as Kiwifruit or Chinese Gooseberry, can be used in a variety of ways and when stored correctly can last a long time.

What is Kiwifruit?

Kiwi is a succulent, juicy, green fruit with a sweet and slightly tart taste. It has a brown, fuzzy exterior that can be eaten and is very nutritious once the hairs are gently wiped away. When ripe, Kiwi is firm to the touch, but yields easily.

History and Naming of Kiwifruit

Kiwifruit is fairly new to the Western world, arriving in the 20th century from China. The Chinese never really used Kiwi as a fruit; instead, they gave it to children and women after childbirth due to its high nutritional content. While Kiwifruit was introduced to the United States in 1904, the first Kiwi seeds were planted in 1906 in New Zealand and the first fruit was gathered in 1910. California began harvesting Kiwifruit and produced their first successful crop in 1970. Today about 95% of the United States' Kiwifruit is grown in California.
Scientifically named Actinidia Deliciosa, Kiwifruit was commonly known as Chinese Gooseberry due to its flavor and the color of its flesh, but in the 1960's, New Zealand growers began calling it Kiwifruit for market appeal and in 1974 Kiwifruit was adopted as its trade name.

Nutritional Information

Kiwi has 61 calories per fruit, 3.4 grams of dietary fiber, and 14.88 grams of carbohydrates. In addition, Kiwifruit contains a high level of Vitamin C, potassium, and beta carotene. Kiwifruit has been proven to prevent asthma, wheezing and coughing, and colon cancer, it protects DNA from forming mutations, and it provides a nutritious amount of antioxidants and vitamins.

Uses for Kiwifruit

Kiwifruit can be eaten scooped out of its skin, peeled and sliced or with the hairs brushed off and eaten whole. Kiwi is often used to garnish fruit tarts and is great with yogurt and other fruit for smoothies. Kiwi contains an enzyme called "actinidin" that breaks down collagen, so it does not do well in gelatin, but makes it a great meat tenderizer. Kiwifruit is also used to give salads a unique and tropical flavor.

Growing and Storage Conditions

The California Rare Fruit Growers, Inc. states that Kiwifruit grows on a vine with large white flowers and when harvested needs some sort of trellis to grow on. It can grow in partial shade, but does best in sunny conditions and needs lots of water. Kiwifruit is harvested when the fruit is hard and the seeds are completely black inside.
The fruit can be kept in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for a few months. Once removed from the refrigerator, it can be ripened on a counter at room temperature in just a few days.

Kiwifruit Allergy

The same enzyme that helps Kiwifruit break down certain foods also make it an allergen. A study done at the University of Southamptom says that symptoms include itching in the mouth, lip irritation, wheezing, nausea and vomiting. Symptoms in over half of the subjects appeared within in the first five minutes of exposure. It is recommended that you consult your doctor if you suspect a Kiwi allergy.