"We are looking for the Conference of kiwi berries"

The biggest stumbling block for the kiwi berry is that people do not know about it. "We have been on the market for about eight years now with large quantities for the first time this year. Yet, there are still many people who have never heard of a kiwi berry, let alone tasted one. The kiwi berry does not yet have a place of prominence on store shelves. So, it is still unknown to many consumers, even though it is actually a 'superfood'. You eat the kiwi berry with peel and all. This makes it even healthier than the ordinary kiwi", says Filip Debersaques, a researcher at Gent University in Belgium. "It would be advantageous if a large player, like Zespri, were to get involved in kiwi berry cultivation. In the beginning, I though Zespri was going to be a tough competitor. However, Zespri knows how to play the market better than anyone. This is what the kiwi berry needs."

At Gent University, Filip Debersaques has a collection of kiwi berry varieties from around the world. "We also have our own selections that we test to see if they are interesting regarding color, taste, and shelf life. We also see whether they can grow in our climate", says the head lecturer. These varieties that are currently being cultivated are considered to be best varieties for commercial use. "We do not currently have another variety that can compete with the Geneva. This is an early high-quality variety with a good shelf life. We expect to keep growing this variety for a long time to come. The Weiki and the Ananasnaja are good average varieties. There is, however, a possibility that these varieties will be replaced over time. We are looking for the Conference of kiwi berries."

Kiwi berry cultivation is seen to be difficult. "Every year, someone somewhere stops growing this product. This might be because their fruits do not achieve the right quality. Or the plants do not grow. Spring frost is also a major threat to this type of cultivation. As is the high temperatures Europa faced in recent months. In Portugal, temperatures soared above 40 degrees Celsius. This hot weather caused 50-60% of the kiwi berry crops to fail in some Portuguese orchards", according to Filip. The optimum conditions to grow kiwi berries is in areas in Europe where it does not get too hot. These places include regions in northern Portugal and the Benelux, as well as Poland.

Currently, at the university, there are two varieties that are being tested for large-scale planting. "We believe strongly in the varieties we are testing. The most important new variety is more oblong in shape and is excellent when it comes to quality and shelf life. What makes this variety exceptional is that it can also be eaten before it is ripe. We have not introduced this variety. We want to test it completely before growers invest in it", says Filip. He is also convinced that works need to be in the market and on getting people to be more familiar with kiwi berries. This must be done rather than expanding the acreage used to grow this fruit. "We are now at a crossroads. We must put the kiwi berry on the map with consumers. Then we can look at larger volumes and other varieties."

For more information:

Filip Debersaques

Head Lecturer Horticulture 

Gent University

+32 (0) 924 324 89

+32 (0) 495 162 557