The Story of the Furry Berry

In 1904, a humble school teacher planted the first 'Chinese Gooseberry' seeds in our rich NZ soil. The vines and the industry flourished beyond all expectations.  The Kiwifruit, as it was named, is now one of our country's major exports, and the story of its success is a real testament to kiwi ingenuity.

With 50 years of crop development, research, innovation and expertise; New Zealand has created a perfectly shaped, delicious, nutritious and versatile fruit. New Zealand has a reputation for being clean and green and Kiwifruit grown here in Te Puke is deservedly known as the best in the world.

Kiwifruit truly is unlike any other fruit in the world, and weight for weight, the healthiest to be found. A Kiwifruit has twice the amount of vitamin C of an orange, and very high levels of Vitamin E (twice as much as an avocado). Kiwifruit also have a very high fibre content. Kiwifruit grown here has exceptional keeping qualities. Under refrigeration (at approximately 0.5 degrees Celsius), it will keep in beautiful condition for up to 9 months! This means that the fruit we pick in April you can still eat 'fresh' in January the following year!

The Industry Pioneers

Commercial export of Kiwifruit grown in this Te Puke area commenced in 1953, with the first shipments to London. (The very vines that produced those first shipments are still thriving, still bursting with fruit today!)
Two enterprising, innovative farmers drove the initial exports. As subsequent shipments succeeded, many others in the area entered the industry for their 'slice' of the possible rewards.
A period of huge investment by these first growers began in earnest. Perfect growing environnements were optimized to drive the industry forward. Intense competition forced the entrepreneurs to open new markets for Kiwifruit all around the world.

The stories of this time are perfect examples of kiwi ingenuity and innovation, and a source of pride here at Kiwi360.

Export volumes continued to increase year after year, as more and more countries became interested in this furry brown berry with the bright green flesh, amazing health benefits, extraordinary keeping qualities and great taste. In 1987, a grower-controlled marketing organization was formed. Within 10 years, Zespri (as it was later named) had become a hugely successful marketing body for the Kiwifruit Industry. The Zespri brand is now a top global fruit brand symbolizing highest quality, health,

Today, 100 million trays of Kiwifruit are sent from New Zealand to 62 countries across the globe. And of these exports, nearly 90% grow in this pocket of land - the Kiwifruit Capital of the world!

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