China aims for kiwifruit profit

Press, 14 August 1989, Page 32

China aims for kiwifruit profit

NZPA-AFP Peking The international success of the kiwifruit has spurred China, the original home of the succulent fruit, to produce it commercially. Marketed successfully world-wide by New Zealand growers after a name change from the Chinese gooseberry, the kiwifruit is in fact a Chinese species known as the monkey peach, the “China Daily” said today. It grew wild and unpicked until New Zealanders transplanted specimens in 1908 and developed it, the paper said.

Since then, New Zealand has dominated the international market and made “a great deal of money” out of the fruit,

the English-language daily said.

In the past, few Chinese knew its value, the paper said, but drawn by potential profits China is attempting to gain a foothold in the market. Some 700 ha have been planted in Henan province where farmers also harvest „ kiwifruit from IOOOha which grow wild in the mountains. China has founded a National Development Complex and a research centre for the Chinese kiwifruit. After more than 10 years of research China has developed improved varieties which can increase production, the paper quoted a researcher as saying.