Tiny Fruit. Big Kiwi Energy.

Northwest grown Kiwi Berries are Back for their Short & Sweet Fall Season

They look a little like grapes, taste unmistakably like a kiwi, and you can pop the whole thing in your mouth, smooth skin and all. 

Kiwi berries are one of those fleeting Northwest crops that make September-October produce departments a little more interesting. Smaller, sweeter and more aromatic than their fuzzy cousins, they’re an easy snack with no peeling required. Think lunch boxes, snack packs, smoothies, fruit boards, salads or simply eat them by the handful. 

OGC Buyer Jess Hardin recently visited two of our longtime Oregon kiwi berry growers, and this year’s crop gave him plenty to get excited about.  

At Nine Star Ranch, an OGC grower partner for roughly 20 years, Jess found an especially impressive crop. “This is the cleanest and largest fruit I have seen from them. WOW!!!!!” 

Farther south at Lake Farm, Jess reports that the season is coming on quickly, with beautiful fruit headed our way.  

Both farms will pack into our Ladybug Brand 12 x 6 oz. clamshells, with first arrivals landing this coming week. 

A Little Patience Pays Off

Kiwi berries are harvested firm so they can travel well and arrive in good condition. That means they may need a little time before they’re ready to eat. Encourage shoppers to leave them on the counter for a couple of days. When the fruit has a little give, it’s ready, and that's when the sweetness and bright kiwi flavor really shine. 

Kiwi berry season is short. Make some room in the berry set and give shoppers something fun to discover.