French green kiwis are struggling in the current market. "The harvest was far lower than in previous years," says a European importer. "That was due to heavy rainfall and frost in the spring and drought and a heat wave in the summer. Climate issues are thus affecting the kiwis that, in particular, need plenty of water. Prices are relatively high, and we've no complaints about the quality. The fruit has a nice Brix value, something for which French kiwis are known."
These kiwis are harvested a month later than those in Italy and Greece. "Those are providing plenty of competition at the moment. Especially because there are far more Greek kiwis this year. However, I think their quality doesn't nearly match the French fruit," explains the importer.
"And the Greek fruit's sizes are generally somewhat disappointing this season. Because of where they grow, French kiwis can hang on the tree longer. That makes for a higher price, but customers looking for quality will always prefer the French product, regardless. It's also more of a niche product."
Demand is presently, certainly not too bad either. "Kiwis are always popular in the run-up to the festive season. People want something special, something exotic. Even though kiwis have become somewhat commonplace," continues the importer.
But, the importer also notices that because of current inflation, people are more prudent with their spending. "As mentioned, French kiwis are quite pricey, so many consumers seem to opt for a cheaper alternative. Still, fruit is the food of choice where quality matters most. Cookies don't have to taste great, but a bad-tasting fruit can ruin your day," the importer concludes.