Kiwifruit

Commodity Overview

Include kiwifruit in tropicals displays, but place it near the top of the display to avoid its small size getting lost among larger fruits. The tiny tropical fruit can be a popular snack with health-conscious shoppers, so keep them in mind when you are planning promotions.

PLUs

4030 regular
3279 golden
3280 regular, jumbo size 22 and larger

Varieties

Green Kiwifruit

Gold Kiwifruit

Retail Price Data is based on USDA Specialty Crops Market News surveys. Data collection ends on the report date and encompasses ad pricing good from the Saturday before the report release date through the following Friday. Weekly data - from over 400 retailers, comprising more than 30,000 individual stores with online weekly advertised features - covers over 250 produce items. Registered (logged-in) users, can access weekly reports and additional market information.

USDA Specialty Crops Market News publishes FOB and Movement data on a daily and weekly basis. Pricing and volume information is aggregated by commodity and published weekly, subject to any source-data adjustments. Commodity data is further processed based on origin (domestic vs imports) and type (regular vs. organic). Registered (logged-in) users, can access weekly reports and additional market information.

Facts

From combatting eye disease to fighting cancer, kiwifruit has lots to offer in the health department. Compounds in kiwifruit have been shown to help prevent macular degeneration. Kiwifruit is high in vitamin C, which is an antioxidant that can fight cancer and boost the immune system. Kiwifruit also contains potassium, which can help lower blood pressure. Research has shown that a diet including kiwifruit may help prevent certain types of cancer, including prostate, lung and skin cancer.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the following nutrient content descriptors for kiwifruit: low-fat, saturated fat-free, sodium-free, cholesterol-free, high in fiber, high in vitamin C, a good source of vitamin E and a good source of potassium.

Sales Strategies

While kiwifruit is most often eaten as a snack, it does have many uses. Cross-merchandise it with iced tea, pitchers, berries, fruit salad ingredients and baking goods.
Kiwifruit is available year-round. Add it to seasonal promotions.
Fall: Include kiwifruit in back-to-school promotions as it is a simple, easy and sweet addition to brown bag lunches. Kids and parents both love the sweet little fruit.
Winter: Include kiwifruit in holiday displays. Its green flesh is a festive color, and it can be added to holiday baking as a topping for iced sugar cookies or fruit pizza.
Spring: Encourage consumers to purchase kiwifruit as a topping for springtime salads. It adds a unique look and flavor.
Summer: Promote kiwifruit as a refreshing, easy snack for on-the-go families. Encourage consumers to use it in place of lemon in iced tea.

Dynamic Displays

Most consumers are familiar with green kiwifruit, but golden kiwifruit can broaden your sales. Stock both on your display. Clearly label the two and let consumers know that gold kiwifruit has a sweeter, more tropical flavor than the green variety.
Kiwifruit are fragile, so avoid bruises by stacking them no more than two layers deep.
Avoid placing kiwifruit near apples and bananas as they can make the kiwifruit ripen faster.
Include kiwifruit in tropicals displays, but place it near the top of the display to avoid its small size getting lost among larger fruits.
Consider pairing kiwifruit with peaches and plums as all three are eaten mainly as snacks. The brown kiwifruit also contrasts nicely with peaches and plums.

Food Service

Kiwifruit is the perfect fruit for desserts, from compotes to sorbets. It also makes an attractive and tasty topping for cakes and tarts.
Include chopped kiwifruit on breakfast bars as a topping for yogurt or cereal.
Add kiwifruit near the end of a dish’s cooking time as it does not require much cooking. Don’t use kiwifruit with gelatin as an enzyme in the fruit causes the gelatin to break down.
Kiwifruit seeds can be bitter, so remove them before making a kiwifruit puree. Use kiwifruit puree as a topping for ice cream or a plate garnish for desserts.
Use kiwifruit instead of lemon as a garnish for drinks.

In the Backroom

Shipping
22-lb. or 10-kg. cartons, loose 20-lb. cartons, 20 1-lb. film bags 13-lb. cartons 8-lb. flats, 1-layer (New Zealand) 7 1⁄2 lb.-flats, 1 layer (California) 3-layer or count-fill 125-lb. wood RPC 6411, 6413 Consumer packs 1-lb. bags (New Zealand, California) 5-lb. bags (New Zealand, California) Foodservice packs Offered in the same packaging as retail, foodservice operators usually ask for a tray flat that holds 28 to 45 pieces.

Grades
U.S. Fancy U.S. No. 1 The federal marketing order for domestic kiwifruit requires mandatory inspection. Size 45 is the smallest size allowed. A minimum maturity of 6.5 brix is required. New Zealand kiwifruit is all export quality, comparable to U.S. fancy. Count 42 is the smallest size shipped. Import fruit must meet minimum grade, size and maturity.

Handling
Temperature: 32 F, 0 C backroom storage Relative humidity: 90-95% Mist: no Typical shelf life: Green: up to 28 days, refrigerated; three to seven days at room temperature; Gold: up to 14 days, refrigerated, three to four days at room temperature. Ethylene-sensitive (unripe). Ethylene-producer (ripe). Spots of dry mold can be wiped off, but discard fruit with wet spots.