KIWI FRUIT
Actinidia deliciosa
Thought by some to be a native of China, the kiwi fruit was
first grown commercially on a large scale in New Zealand, following World
War II. It was known as the Chinese gooseberry until it gained its
current nickname. New Zealand growers soon realized they had a tidy, tasty,
Vitamin C loaded fruit of an attractive green color that would travel well
so they began to promote it mightily, shipping the fruit to Europe and North
America. Evidently the first American customers to see the “Chinese” fruit
in the Cold War era 1950’s were not enticed by the name so marketers immediately
changed it to “kiwi fruit,” and success soon followed. ( The kiwi is a flightless
bird unique to New Zealand—sports teams, and then the entire citizenry became
known to outsiders as “kiwis.”) California and French growers grow kiwis
with great success today as well.
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