Kiwiberries

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KIWIBERRIES

A fruit with a very bright future, kiwiberries (Actinidia arguta) make an exciting addition to your home orchard or commercial vineyard. These cold-hardy, climbing vines produce attractive, grape-sized berries with an intense tropical taste that do not require peeling. Sweet and tart and high in bioactive compounds, the kiwiberry is a smooth-skinned relative of the fuzzy supermarket kiwi but is far superior in flavor. Ripened kiwiberries may be consumed fresh or incorporated into a wide range of desserts, savory dishes, smoothies, and value-added products (preserves, spirits, fruit leathers, etc.). Kiwiberry vines require full sun, a sturdy trellis, and intensive management to realize their full potential. Depending on the variety, kiwiberries may be grown successfully in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 8 – 4b, with the species generally capable of surviving temperatures as low as -25°F (-31°C) when dormant. Please note that all kiwifruit species are dioecious, with female and male varieties. To produce fruit on female vines, you must have a male vine nearby (recommended commercial practice is 1 male for every 6-8 females).

Hartmann’s now offers genetically-verified kiwiberry varieties, in collaboration with the University of New Hampshire

The kiwiberry (Actinidia arguta) was originally introduced to the United States in 1876. Since that time, a great many varieties have come in and out of circulation, with frequent exchange happening among nurseries, private individuals, and the USDA. Recent research shows that this long history of exchange has resulted in widespread misidentification and mis-labeling throughout the industry. This leaves prospective producers in a bind, as they consider investing in a commercial vineyard: How to source vines of known identity and performance with confidence?

At Hartmann’s, we believe that variety names should mean something. In collaboration with the University of New Hampshire, home of Nor’East Kiwiberries, the nation’s only public kiwiberry breeding program, we are proud to now offer genetically-verified vines of the varieties recommended for commercial production by that program. Variety standards: our way of supporting the growing kiwiberry industry. Look for the verified mark!