Origin and Distribution of kiwifruit

This interesting species is native to the provinces of Hupeh, Szechuan, Kiangsi and Fukien in the Yangtze Valley of northern China–latitude 31º N–and Zhejiang Province on the coast of eastern China. It was cultivated on a small scale at least 300 years ago, but still today most of the 1,000-ton crop is derived from wild vines scattered over 33 of the 48 counties of Zhejiang. The plants may be seen climbing tall trees or, near Lung to ping, Hupeh, sprawling over low scrub or rocks exposed to strong northeast winds and bearing heavily. The Chinese have never shown much interest in exploiting the fruit. Because of the dense population, there is little room for expansion of the industry. Nevertheless, trial shipments of canned fruits were made to West Germany in 1980.

Specimens of the plant were collected by the agent for the Royal Horticultural Society, London, in 1847 and described from his dried material, In 1900, seeds gathered in Hupeh were sent to England by E.H. Wilson. The resulting plants flourished and bloomed in 1909. When both male and female vines were planted together, fruits were produced but usually only solitary vines were grown as ornamentals. Seeds from China were introduced into New Zealand in 1906 and some vines bore fruits in 1910. Several growers raised numerous seedlings (many of which were males) and selected the best fruiting types, which were propagated around 1930. By 1940 there were many plantings, one with 200 vines, especially on the eastern coast of the North Island. The fruits were being marketed and were very popular with American servicemen stationed in New Zealand during World War II, Commercial exporting was launched in 1953, the fruits going mainly to Japan, North America and Europe, with small quantities to Australia, the United Kingdom and Scandinavia. In 1981, a survey of small holders in the Auckland suburbs revealed that the great majority of them intended to plant kiwifruit for the local market. Today, West Germany is New Zealand's biggest customer for kiwifruit. Production in 1983 was reportedly 40,000 tons as compared with 300 tons in 1937. New Zealand supplies 99% of the world production of kiwifruit and 95% of the crop is harvested within 35 miles (56 km) of the little town of Te Puke, Bay of Plenty–38º S latitude. The small industry was greatly assisted in 1971 by an arrangement with the Bay of Plenty Co-operative Dairy Company for the use of cool storage facilities and the construction of a cooperative central packing house. In 1984, there were 2,500 growers, more than 400 packing sheds and 200 "coolstores" with a capacity of 1.9 million tons. A $10,000 prize was offered for the design of a new package for export that would accommodate fruits of varying shapes and sizes.