Kiwifruit, 700 Year Old Fruit with Emerald Green Color

Kiwi is one of the most nutrient-rich of all major fruits, delivering a wide range of vitamins and minerals. It is low-fat, sodium-free, cholesterol-free, high in fiber and vitamin C, and is a good source of vitamin E and much much more.

TEXARKANA, Ark. –

Have you tried kiwifruit? This fruit is over 700 years old and began in the Yang-Tse valley in China, where it was called “Yangtao.” It was considered a delicacy by the court of the great Khans who cherished its delicious flavor and emerald-green color.

Soon the knowledge of the fruit spread to other countries. Seeds were sent to New Zealand, where it was renamed the "Chinese Gooseberry." In 1962 the fruit was shipped to the United States, where it was re-named Kiwifruit after New Zealand's national bird the kiwi. Grown in California for the first time in the 70’s, it became available in supermarkets throughout the United States.

Select kiwifruit with no bruises, soft spots, wrinkles or signs of exterior damage. Buy firm kiwifruit and let ripen at home for a juicier flavor. A kiwifruit is ripe when plump and slightly soft to the touch with a fragrant smell.

It should be stored at room temperature for 3 to 5 days. Ripe kiwifruit can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 7 days, but kiwifruit near fruits that produce ethylene gas such as apples, bananas or pears, will speed up the ripening process.    

No peeling is required to eat a kiwi. The skin is very thin and just needs to be rinsed and rubbed lightly. Then, cut in quarters or slices and enjoy-skin and all! If you don’t want to eat the skin, it's easy to peel kiwifruit. First, cut off the top and bottom ends, and then peel down the sides with a vegetable peeler or knife and slice or quarter into bite-size pieces.

Kiwi can be medium or small in size. They are brown and fuzzy on the outside and bright green on the inside with tiny black seeds. The flavor is a mixture of peaches, strawberries, and melon with a soft and juicy texture. It's one of the most popular fruits today.

It is one of the most nutrient-rich of all major fruits, delivering a wide range of vitamins and minerals. It is low fat, sodium-free, cholesterol-free, high in fiber and vitamin C, a good source of vitamin E, and a good source of potassium.

Soluble fiber protects against heart disease and diabetes, while insoluble fiber reduces the risk of some cancers, constipation, and diverticulosis. A single serving of kiwifruit contains both types of fiber.

The vitamin C helps boost your immune system and is an antioxidant that can protect your arteries from the damaging effects of free radicals.

The Vitamin E may reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and exercise-induced oxidative damage. Unlike most sources of Vitamin E, kiwi is a low-fat food source of vitamin E.

Kiwi contains more potassium than bananas. Potassium helps the heart work more efficiently, and is significant in controlling blood pressure. Potassium controls heart activity and maintains fluid balance. A single serving of kiwifruit outranks bananas as the top low-sodium, high-potassium fruit.

Folate, and magnesium offer health benefits that range from preventing birth defects to nerve function. Folate helps protect against birth defects, cancer and heart disease, and helps prevent 70% of neural tube in babies each year. This is especially important for all woman of childbearing age. Whereas, magnesium found in a serving of kiwi is a vital mineral, whose intake often falls short in the American diet, but is important for bone formation, heart rhythm regulation, muscle relaxation and nerve function.

Contact the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Miller County in room 215 of the Miller County courthouse. E-mail chadley@uada.edu or call 870-779-3609. You can also get great tips on facebook at UAEXMillerCountyFCS and  twitter at @MillerCountyFCS or visiting us at uaex.uada.edu/miller.

By Carla Haley-Hadley
County Extension Agent - FCS
The Cooperative Extension Service
U of A System Division of Agriculture

Media Contact: Carla Haley-Hadley
County Extension Agent - FCS
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
400 Laurel Street, Suite 215 Texarkana AR 71854
(870) 779-3609
chaley@uada.edu

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