Kiwi fruit, originally native to China and known as the Chinese gooseberry, has a fascinating history of global cultivation. The fruit was first domesticated in the Yangtze River valley, where it was valued for centuries. In the early 20th century, seeds were brought to New Zealand, where growers successfully cultivated and improved the fruit, eventually rebranding it as "kiwifruit" in the 1950s to boost international marketing. Today, the top kiwi-producing countries are China, which leads by a wide margin, followed by Italy, New Zealand, Iran, and Greece. These countries benefit from temperate climates and have developed advanced horticultural techniques to maximize yield and fruit quality. The global spread of kiwifruit cultivation reflects both its adaptability and the international demand for this nutritious, vitamin-rich fruit.
Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
---|---|---|
1 | China | 2,380,788 |
2 | New Zealand | 628,496 |
3 | Italy | 416,060 |
4 | Greece | 313,390 |
5 | Iran | 294,263 |
6 | Chile | 139,560 |
7 | Turkey | 86,362 |
8 | Portugal | 55,460 |
9 | France | 46,030 |
10 | United States of America | 36,380 |
11 | Spain | 28,360 |
12 | Japan | 21,689 |
13 | South Korea | 8,359 |
14 | Israel | 6,200 |
15 | Australia | 2,543 |
16 | Georgia | 1,600 |
Data from United Nations FAO Stat