Actinidia arguta
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| Hardy Kiwi | ||||||||||||||
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 Hardy Kiwi
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| Actinidia arguta |
A small, green to purple skinned fruit similar to kiwifruit, hardy kiwifruit is an edible, berry-sized fruit of a Cultivar Group of the woody vine Actinidia arguta. Often sweeter than the kiwifruit, hardy kiwifruit can be eaten whole and need not be peeled. Thin-walled, its exterior is smooth and leathery, providing a deceiving contrast to the fuzzy, brown exterior of its larger sibling fruits.
Common names include Kiwi Berry, Baby Kiwi, Dessert Kiwi or Cocktail Kiwi.
The fast-growing, climbing vine is very hardy (hence the name), and is capable of surviving slow temperature drops to -32°C (-25°F). The vines need a frost-free growing season of about 150 days, but are not damaged by late freezes. The vines can also be grown in low-chill areas.[1]
The vines of the hardy kiwifruit possess a catnip like smell which can attract cats.[1]
[edit] Origin and Distribution
The hardy kiwifruit is native to Korea, Northern China, and Russian Siberia. Attempts to commercialize the fruit have been unsuccessful due to its short shelf-life and sporadic tendencies to ripen. Attempts are being made however to bring the fruit to greater bear, and commercial production initiatives are underway on a small scale in South America, New Zealand, Europe, and Oregon & Washington, USA, as well with some organic growers in northern New England.
In the UK Kiwiberries are available in some food outlets, including the supermarket Waitrose.
[edit] External links
- NZKiwiberry (Information page at Delica exporting company)
[edit] References
- ^ a b HARDY KIWIFRUIT Fruit Facts. 1996, California Rare Fruit Growers, Inc.
