Kiwi is a commercial fruit that is native to Southeast Asia. This fruit is cultivated in a few countries due to the need of special climatic conditions.
kiwi harvesting time starts in September to November and is available until May if stored in appropriate conditions in the cold storage.
Kiwi fruit is sweet and sour in flavor and has delicious juicy flesh. This fruit is oval in shape and has a brown fuzzy skin. Its flesh is green and contains black edible seeds and a white flesh at the center.
While there are more than 40 different Types of Kiwi Fruit, the most well-known variety and the preferred cultivar is ‘Hayward‘. Because Hayward kiwi fruit is larger than other varieties and much softer in texture. It is known for its long shelf life as well as its superior flavor.
Applications
Kiwi as a nutritious fruit is often eaten fresh. However, it can be used to make sauces, juices, etc. Dried kiwi is also one of the most popular types of dried fruits.
Iranian kiwi fruit
Kiwi is grown in northern Iran along the Caspian Sea, In the provinces of Gilan, Mazandaran and Golestan.
Hayward is the most common cultivated species in Iran. The annual production of kiwi is over 350.000Mt (metric tons), which is done in the area under cultivation of approximately 13.000 hectares.
Storage
Kiwi can be stored for 3 months or more at cold storage facilities at 0˚C, while its shelf life is about 14-28 days in normal temperature. this sensitive fruit should be transferred by refrigerated containers.
