How Did the Kiwi Fruit Get Its Name?

Up until 1952, the Kiwi, when it was known at all, was known as the Chinese Gooseberry or Melonette (Actinidia chinensis). The fruit is native to China where it grew wild. When specimens of this fruit were first sent to Europe in the late 1700s and then to London in the mid-1800s, the fruit was considered ornamental only and had no edible part. It was New Zealand, during the early 1900s, that realized the commercial potential of the fruit and developed the first successful cultivated variety. The fruit was named in honor of the kiwi bird, a national symbol, and the nickname given to New Zealanders themselves.

In 1904, a schoolteacher named Isabel Fraser visited China and brought the first kiwi seeds back to New Zealand. Successful breeding of the plants for cultivation took effort, but large-scale plantings began in 1924 and the fruits began to be exported in 1952.

The cultivated Chinese Gooseberries did not get their name change until later when, in 1959, the head of a leading New Zealand fruit exporting company thought of a new name for the fruit. He proposed to name it after the Kiwi bird, an important symbol in New Zealand and, reportedly, because the fruit and the bird had a similar coloring.

The principal kiwi cultivar in New Zealand was given its own scientific designation in 1984, Actinida deliciosa. This variety is also called the “Hayward” or Hayward Fuzzy Kiwi.” Actinida is derived from the Greek word Akinos, meaning “ray.” This describes the radial shapes inside the fruit. The word deliciosa means delicious, coming from Latin. These fruits have a dull brown color and green flesh. They are the most familiar variety to most of us in the States. The fruits are large and have high productivity with a low rate of respiration and ethylene sensitivity, giving them a longer shelf life.

How Did the Club Sandwich Get Its Name?

Today, New Zealand is the biggest exporter of Kiwis. The country exports about $1 billion worth of fruit, annually. Other major exporters are Italy, Belgium, Greece, Chile, and China.

The Haward green-fleshed kiwis were the major cultivar until recently when yellow-fleshed cultivars began to be increasingly exported. Plantings of Zespri’s yellow-fleshed kiwi now exceed that of the green-fleshed variety. It is more productive and has a less acidic taste. These kiwis are also known as “SunGold Kiwis.” The fruits are smooth and hairless with a golden-brown color and the flesh is sweet with notes of pineapple and mango.