New-season kiwifruit appears

Press, 11 May 1984, Page 2

New-season kiwifruit appears

Good quantities of quality kiwifruit from Nelson were available at the Christchurch markets yesterday. The fruit is the new season’s crop. With the aid of cool storage, kiwifruit

are now available throughout the year. The fruit originally grew in the forest regions of the Yangtse Valley in China. Seeds were introduced to New Zealand in 1906 and

trial plantings of the “Chinese Gooseberry” were made near Wanganui in the 19205. Commercial plantings were made in 1937 at Te Puke, in the Bay of Plenty, but it was only after World War II that the export industry started to expand. In 1953, the first export consignment of 4001 b went to Britain. After much confusion with the green Cape Gooseberry, the name was changed in 1959 to kiwifruit. Since then, large plantings have been made in the Nelson area and new plantings at Karamea, on the West Coast. The commonest type of kiwifruit is the Hayward, which is expected to yield fruit of superior size and flavour. It is a versatile fruit that can be used hot or

cold. The bright emerald colour makes it ideal for decoration of cakes or the traditional pavlova. Kiwifruit are a good source of vitamin C.

At the markets yesterday, kiwifruit sold for 80c to $l.lO a kg or to $3OO for a bin of 300 to 330 kg. Feijoas were well supplied at $lO a half-case and $3O to $35 a bushel. Tamarillos were $lB to $2O a halfcase. Avacados were down in price from last week at $45 to $57 a bushel, which contains between 40 to 50 fruit. Pawpaws from Fiji were $22 to $32 a carton of about eight fruit and pepinos were $3 to $5 a tray of 12 to 18 fruit.

The discharge of the banana shipment was held up by wet weather earlier in the week but bananas should be available in Christchurch shops today. Again this week, most vegetables were in good supply. Carrots were $1.50 to $4.50 for 18kg to 20kg bags, and cabbages were 60c to $2 for a bag of about eight. Cauliflower varied in quality and price from $2 to $B, also for a bag of about eight. Celery was $2 to $6 a case.

Good supplies of broccoli were $6 to $lO a case. Swedes, from Southland, were $4 to $5 a bag or to $BO for a bin of about 300 kg. Yams are starting to arrive at the market and made up to $4 a kg. Pumpkin is plentiful with Crown, the smaller, grey variety, at $2 to $4.50 a 25kg to 30kg bag, and Buttercup at $2 to $6 a 15kg bag. Butternuts were $3 to $6, also for a 15kg bag. Brussels sprouts, from Oamaru, were $6 to $8 for a 6kg bag. Today’s recipe KIWIFRUIT AND GINGER DESSERT 6 kiwifruit 4 pieces preserved ginger 2 tablespoons ginger syrup 2 tablespoons rum whipped cream Method: Peel the kiwifruit and cut into thick slices. Place in a shallow dish. Cut the ginger into slices and scatter through the fruit. Mix the ginger syrup with the rum and pour over the fruit. Cover and chill for several hours. To serve, pour into small dishes with a little of the syrup in each one. Top with whipped cream. Serves 4.