Kiwi
Estimated Inventory, 36 ct : 6.76
This item was last sold on : 12/22/24
Description/Taste
About the size of an egg, kiwifruit is wrapped in a russet-brown thin skin with short rather stiff hairs. The kaleidoscope-like almost glistening emerald green firm pulp is dotted with a large amount of dark nearly black tiny edible seeds that create this fruit's characteristic interior starburst pattern. Sometimes the flesh may be yellow, brownish or off-white. Sweet tart with a slightly acidic edge, this decorative fruit's succulent flavor is mainly sweet.
Seasons/Availability
Kiwifruit is available from California during the winter months. New Zealand kiwifruit is available in spring and supplies arrive from Chile during the summer months.
Current Facts
According to the California Kiwifruit Commission, kiwi fruit were the fastest-growing fruit in sales and distribution from 1987 to 1995.
Nutritional Value
Kiwifruit is rich in vitamin C, having ten times more than the equal weight of a lemon. Two fruits have almost twice the vitamin C of an orange and more potassium than a comparable serving of bananas. High in fiber, it also offers vitamin A, Vitamin E, calcium and iron. Credit goes to all those little black seeds, as they act much like grains, providing lots of nutrition.
Applications
Puree; enhance juices and beverages. Even though the skin is edible, the fruit is usually peeled. Slice for garnish. Containing a meat-tenderizing enzyme, place sliced peels with some flesh attached directly on meat; marinate thirty minutes for each inch of the meat's thickness. To make a kiwifruit salsa, blend four peeled kiwis, one teaspoon minced jalapeño pepper, one tablespoon orange juice, one tablespoon chopped fresh mint and a pinch of salt. Serve with grilled swordfish, grilled poultry and roast pork. Bananas, berries, mangoes, strawberries, raspberries and oranges are especially partial to kiwifruit. To store, refrigerate ripe fruit up to ten days. Refrigerated unripe fruit lasts up to one month.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
The French word, souris vegetale, for this fruit translates to "vegetable mouse".
Geography/History
Native to the Yangtze River Valley of northern China and Zhejiang Province on the coast of eastern China, this fruit was first grown commercially in New Zealand. England received their very first kiwifruit shipment in 1953. Not frost-tolerant, the vigorous woody twining vine or climbing shrubby plants require a long growing season. Only fully dormant plants can survive temperatures around ten degrees Fahrenheit. The rambling vines are capable of stretching to cover an area ten to fifteen feet wide, eighteen to twenty-four feet long and nine to twelve feet high. Producing deep green leathery-textured oval to round leaves that can grow seven to ten inches in diameter, fragrant one to two inch wide white to cream colored flowers appear in the leaf axils. In the United States, California produces about ninety-nine percent of the nation's kiwifruit supply.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Coast Catering | Escondido CA | 619-295-3173 |
| Belching Beaver Brewery - Pub 980 | Vista CA | 760-420-7764 |
| Herb & Wood | San Diego CA | 520-205-1288 |
| InterContinental Banquet Kitchen | San Diego CA | 619-501-9400 |
| Gravity Heights Mission Valley - Bar | San Diego CA | 619-384-5993 |
| Red Tail Catering | San Marcos CA | 858-605-8219 |
| Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-759-6063 |
| Portside Pier (Ketch Tasting Deck) | San Diego CA | 858-268-1030 |
| Harbor Breakfast | San Diego CA | 619-888-6586 |
| Venissimo Cheese North Park | San Diego CA | 619-376-1834 |
| The Farm Golf Club | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-756-5585 |
| Edgewater Grill | San Diego CA | 619-232-7581 |
| Extraordinary Desserts Union St. | San Diego CA | 619-294-7001 |
| Sheraton La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-453-5500 |
| Coronado Yacht Club | Coronado CA | 619-435-1848 |
| Brockton Villa Restaurant | San Diego CA | 858-454-7393 |
| Huntress (Banquet) | San Diego CA | 619-955-5750 |
| Pendry SD (Pool House) | San Diego CA | 619-738-7000 |
| Tartine | Coronado CA | 619-435-4323 |
| Happy Medium SD | San Diego CA | 509-869-2279 |
| Venissimo Cheese Hillcrest | San Diego CA | 619-491-0708 |
| The Compass | Carlsbad CA | 760-434-1900 |
| Mister A's Pastry | San Diego CA | 619-239-1377 |
| Kairoa Brewing Company | San Diego CA | 858-735-0051 |
| Peohes | Coronado CA | 619-437-4474 |
| Addison Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-350-7600 |
| Pizza Cassette | San Diego CA | 802-310-5601 |
| Ketch Grill and Taps | San Diego CA | 858-268-1030 |
| Panama 66 | San Diego CA | 619-206-6352 |
| Hotel La Jolla - Sea & Sky | La Jolla CA | 858-459-0261 |
| Marriott Gaslamp | San Diego CA | 619-696-0234 x6051 |
| Haru Holdings (Bun Section) | Carlsbad CA | 619-613-7909 |
| Viejas Casino Grove Steakhouse | Alpine CA | 800-295-3172 |
| US Grant Hotel Grill | San Diego CA | 619-232-3121 |
| Extraordinary Desserts | San Diego CA | 619-294-2132 |
| Boujiemana | San Diego CA | 415-710-0510 |
| Venissimo Cheese Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-847-9616 |
| Marriott Courtyard Old Town | San Diego CA | 619-260-8500 |
| Reata Glen | Ladera Ranch CA | 949-545-2250 |
| Pacific Regent La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-597-8008 |
| Coco Maya by Miss Bs | San Diego CA | 858-245-3780 |
| Mission Bay Beach Club | San Diego CA | 858-201-7551 |
| La Clochette Du Coin-Pacific Beach | San Diego CA | 619-402-7911 |
| Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens | Escondido CA | 915-861-2297 |
| University Club | San Diego CA | 619-234-5200 |
| Saint Mark Golf and Resort, LLC | San Marcos CA | 508-320-6644 |
| Rose Café | Carlsbad CA | 310-399-0711 |
| Sbicca Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 619-417-2587 |
| Blue Whale | La Jolla CA | 808-868-8639 |
| Little Lion | San Diego CA | 619-519-4079 |
| Harney Sushi Oceanside | Oceanside CA | 760-967-1820 |
| Sheraton Carlsbad (20/20) | Carlsbad CA | 760-827-2400 |
| Bayside Landing | San Diego CA | 858-270-9200 |
| Blue Ocean | Carlsbad CA | 760-434-4959 |
| Margaritaville Hotel SD (Kitchen) | San Diego CA | 619-819-9500 |
| Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center | National City CA | 619-434-4281 |
| Sheraton Carlsbad (Banquets) | Carlsbad CA | 760-827-2400 |
| Cesarina | San Diego CA | 619-226-6222 |
| Gravity Heights Restaurant and Brewery | San Diego CA | 858-551-5105 |
| Hilton Garden Inn | San Diego CA | 858-720-9500 |
| Pacific Yacht Agents | Los Angeles CA | 808-214-0970 |
| Javier Plascencia (Animalon) | Bonita CA | 619-295-3172 |
| Claire's on Cedros - SKSB | Solana Beach CA | 858-259-8597 |
| Sushi Kami | San Diego CA | 858-451-7799 |
| Barrel & Board | San Diego CA | 619-902-4646 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Kiwi. One
is easiest, three is harder.
