Bringing Kiwifruit Home

As gleaned from Zespri website http://www.zesprikiwi.com, this is how the name kiwifruit came about:-

"Back when Isabel Fraser brought New Zealand’s first kiwifruit seeds over from China in 1904, the fruits were known by the Chinese name, yang tao, but New Zealanders soon began using a local term, calling the furry fruits Chinese gooseberries.

In 1959, the name Chinese gooseberry was changed again, becoming kiwifruit, after New Zealand’s national bird, the kiwi – small, brown and furry, like the fruit.

The decision was made when New Zealand growers were ready to export kiwifruit to North America. They needed a term that would help establish the new fruit in the newly opening American export market and elsewhere around the world.

The name change was spurred by an American importer, Norman Sondag of the Ziel Company in San Francisco. Turners and Growers, who were leading exporters of the day, had sent him the berries under the novel name “melonettes,” which for his business was even worse than calling them “Chinese gooseberries,” as both melons and berries attracted high duties at the time.

So at a company meeting in Sir Harvey Turner’s office in June 1959, Jack Turner came up with the name “kiwifruit.” They tried it out on Norman Sondag, and he liked it – thought it would be a real winner and began using it immediately.

And that is how the kiwifruit got its name."

Zespri also proffers the following 10 Reasons To Eat Kiwifruit:-

"1. Calorie Control – A serving of kiwifruit has fewer than 110 calories.

2. Superfruit – Kiwifruit is one of the most nutritious fruits with the richest combination of fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.

3. Vitamin C – Kiwifruit is high in the antioxidant vitamin C. In fact, just one covers your daily needs of vitamin C!

4. Fiber – A serving of Zespri® Green Kiwifruit contains 4 grams of fiber, which is as much fiber as 1 pouch (1 cup) of instant oatmeal (4 grams), 1 oz (23 nuts) almonds (3.5 grams), 1 cup of cooked Brussels sprouts (4.1 grams).

5. Potassium – A serving of kiwifruit provides as much potassium as a medium banana.

6. Glycemic Index (GI) – Kiwifruit is a low GI food (Zespri® Green: 39, Zespri® SunGold: 38) and is a great choice for people with diabetes.

7. Folate – One serving of kiwifruit is a good source of folate.

8. Vitamin E – Kiwifruit contains a good source of the antioxidant vitamin E.

9. Fat and Saturated Fat – Kiwifruit is a naturally low fat, saturated fat free food.

10. Portability – Zespri® Kiwifruit are nutritious and portable, as each fruit can easily be cut into two halves and scooped."

From my experience, a kiwifruit's taste index shoots up a few notches when it is eaten chilled. Imagine the difference between drinking a can of your favourite drink at room temperature as compared to drinking it chilled.

It's time to pack some super kiwifruits home today!