With its vibrant green flesh and tangy-sweet taste, Kiwifruit is more than just a delicious snack. It has a fascinating history that spans continents and centuries. Originally known as the Chinese gooseberry, this fruit has travelled from the misty mountains of China to orchards around the world, gaining popularity for its unique flavour and impressive nutritional benefits.
According to Mordor Intelligence, the global kiwifruit market was estimated at approximately USD 9.43 billion in 2024, with expectations for growth driven by increasing consumer health consciousness. From its ancient origins to its rebranding for international markets, this small but mighty fruit has a story worth exploring. Knowing kiwifruit history will give you a fresh perspective on this beloved fruit, whether you are studying agriculture or business or simply love fun food facts.
In this article, we will dive into the 8 fun but educational facts about the kiwifruit history to keep you aware of its unique journey and appreciate this fruit even more in 2025.
A List of 8 Fun and Educational Facts About the Kiwifruit History
Kiwifruit, with a fuzzy outer shell and a bright green interior full of black seeds giving it a pretty texture, is known for its plenty of health benefits and delicious sweet-tart flavour. However, most of you might be unaware of its history like how it became a global favourite starting from a small village in China.
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The following are the top 8 fun and educational facts about the kiwifruit history that every student should know in 2025.
1. The Origin of the Kiwifruit from China to the World
The kiwifruit gained some popularity in China before becoming famous in New Zealand as it was first introduced in China. According to RHS, the old name of this fruit in China is yang tao, so it is believed that the Chinese began cultivating this fruit more than 700 years ago as a medicinal plant. Therefore, it is unsurprising that kiwifruit is sometimes seen as a sign of wealth and health in Chinese society.
Here are some key facts about its origin that you should know about:
- The oldest kiwifruit in China, Yang Tao, was smaller than the kiwifruit of now. It looked like a small, hairy, and fuzzy melon.
- Kiwifruit was consumed in China to increase energy and digestion.
- The rest of the world had not learned about this fruit for many years, even though it was very popular in China.
2. The Fruit’s First International Journey
The kiwifruit gets first worldwide popularity early in the 20th century. Based on Zespri reports, in 1904, a New Zealand citizen Isabel Fraser brought kiwi seeds from his trip to China to his country and started growing them. This journey to New Zealand gained popularity to prove that this is not a short trip.
Here are significant milestones of this fruit:
- Firstly, in the early 1900s, the seed of this fruit was transported from China to New Zealand at the request of a botanist in New Zealand.
- After the successful experiment of growing fruit in New Zealand farmers started to produce this fruit commercially in 1904.
- Surprisingly, New Zealand didn’t start exporting it until the 1950s, when its popularity grew worldwide.
3. Renaming the Chinese Gooseberry to Kiwifruit
The facts about the history of kiwifruit show that its name was renamed to kiwi, making it more popular and unique in the world. They renamed it from Chinese gooseberry to kiwifruit in the inspiration of their national bird, kiwi. The new name instantly attracted attention from individuals worldwide because it sounded better. Students can pick such topics when writing research papers.
The following are the reasons why is kiwi fruit called Kiwi:
- The name of this fruit is changed because it resembles their famous national bird kiwi which also has brown, fuzzy feathers, just like the kiwifruit.
- Another plan behind changing the name is to promote it as a unique fruit that people in the U.S. and Europe should also taste.
4. Kiwifruit’s Rise in the United States
While exploring the facts about the kiwifruit history, we learned that the kiwifruit first gained popularity in the US in the 1960s. The main reason behind its popularity among the people of America was its unique taste that they had not eaten before.
This is how its popularity started in the US:
- The United States got the first cargo of kiwifruit from New Zealand in 1962.
- It grew rapidly and was available in supermarkets after the 1970s and gained popularity among many people who were concerned about their health.
- It is famous for its health benefits as it is abundant in vitamin C, fibre, and antioxidants, contributing to its popularity.
5. The Economic Impact of New Zealand’s Kiwinomics
The economy of New Zealand now heavily depends on kiwifruit. As it has become popular all over the world and successfully traded in other countries, the success of this fruit shows how an agricultural product contributes heavily to the country’s wealth. It is really one of the most valuable exports from the nation, sustaining thousands of companies and employment.
The following are some economic contributions of kiwifruit:
- The world’s largest producer country of kiwifruit is New Zealand. They ship its products regarding kiwifruit to more than 50 fruits.
- Every year, the economy of this country benefits from billions of dollars due to exports of kiwifruit.
- It can also boost the economies of local fruit companies by generating jobs in growing, packing, and transportation.
6. Kiwifruit and Sustainability
The farmers of New Zealand have changed their cultivation styles to focus on the sustainability of kiwifruit as environmental awareness grows worldwide. Many fruit farms in New Zealand adopted eco-friendly methods that not only enhance the environment’s safety but also ensure that the prosperity of this industry grows naturally.
The following are some practices to talk about in facts about the kiwifruit history and sustainability:
- Most Kiwi fruit farms in New Zealand are now switching to organic methods to grow this fruit. They also use less pesticides and chemical fertilisers.
- Modern irrigation methods are installed in many farms to save essential resources like water. Through this method, growers can use water more efficiently.
- Most farms use renewable energy sources for industries that may reduce carbon emissions.
7. Kiwifruit’s Role in Modern Diets
As this generation of societies is concerned about their health, they like kiwifruit and named it a superfood for themselves. You can add this fruit to your meal of any kind, like as a snack or as a salad.
The following are some health benefits of kiwifruit that you know in 2025:
- This is a valuable fruit for your immune system as it contains vitamin C, fibre, potassium, and antioxidants that help to boost your immune system.
- You can also add it to your diet as it helps you to improve digestion and weight management.
- It can also control the level of blood and reduce the rate of heart disease, so many people eat it for that purpose.
8. Future of Kiwifruit with Increasing Global Demand
At last, it is anticipated that this fruit will continue to develop further in the future. To grow its markets, innovation in agriculture techniques is necessary to meet the demands of consumers worldwide.
Despite the facts about the kiwifruit history, we can anticipate the following innovations in the upcoming years:
- Scientists that compete with the pests and other physical injuries would introduce new varieties of the kiwifruit.
- As it has gained popularity, its demand can also rise in other developing regions like Asia and Latin America.
- New products will made from the kiwifruit, such as snacks, liquids, and even cosmetics which will boost the market of this fruit.
Conclusion
No doubt, exploring the interesting facts about kiwi fruit history is not a piece of cake for everyone as it demands a keen interest, thorough research, and the right approach. To assist you in this regard, we have covered a complete guide on 8 fun and educational Kiwifruit history facts that you must be aware of in 2025. It will help you see its journey from its origins in China to moving to New Zealand and spreading worldwide.
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So, to quench your thirst for exploring the kiwifruit facts, read this article and enjoy its incredible history.
Author Bio
Joshua K. Mroz is a research expert and a passionate dissertation writer with a deep interest in exploring different food history and their related culture. She has more than five years of experience assisting students in crafting well-structured dissertation proposals to make them successful. Her love for exploring fascinating stories made her write these interesting facts about kiwifruit.
