Green kiwis are loved around the world for its tangy, juicy pulp, but did you know that it’s one of the agricultural jewels of Greece? While kiwis originally grew in China, they arrived in Europe during the 19th century and to Greece in the early 1980s.
With the Charming Taste of Europe, I learned about green kiwis from Kavala, Greece. The Charming Taste of Europe campaign, co-funded by the European Union aims to raise awareness of select European wines and fresh fruits. This campaign project specifically highlights wine from Italy and France and cherries and green kiwis from Greece. You can read more about my experience with juicy Greek cherries here!
*Thank you to the Charming Taste of Europe for sponsoring this post.
What are green kiwis?
Green kiwis are oval-shaped fruit with a fuzzy brown skin. On the inside, they have green, tangy flesh and small black seeds. The fruit is juicy, tangy and slightly sweet. The tiny seeds inside give you a nice little crunch when you’re eating kiwis. Rich in Vitamin C, kiwis hold more Vitamin C than an orange! It’s different from the related gold kiwi, which has a smooth skin with a golden, yellow hue inside. The golden kiwi tastes sweeter than its green kiwi cousin.
Greece produces a significant amount of kiwis. In fact, they are ranked 5th in global kiwi production and 3rd in kiwi export after New Zealand and Italy.
Where is Kavala?
Kavala, sometimes known as the eastern entryway to Macedonia, is a city in Northern Greece. It lies between the rivers Nestos and Strymonas and hugs the northern coast of the Aegean Sea. It’s about a 9 hour drive from Athens or 2 hour drive from Thessaloniki. Upon entering the city, you’ll notice crystal clear blue water and a panoramic view of a colorful, coastal town built upon the hills. It’s reminiscent of other European coastal cities, although this one is much less touristy. Because of the proximity to the ocean, you’ll find lots of fresh seafood in this city!
What makes Kavala great for green kiwis?
The location and the weather make Kavala a great place to grow green kiwis. The Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot, dry summers along with Kavala’s soil composition allow the kiwis to thrive. In addition, the irrigation networks contribute to the growth of these kiwis and other crops.
Where are the kiwis produced and processed?
The kiwis are cultivated at the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Kavala (Kavala COOP). Founded in 1927, it now has 500 members. These members include producers from Kavala, Thassos, and Nestos. This COOP cultivates various crops, including green kiwis, asparagus, and olives.
I had a chance to visit the processing facility in Haidefto, Kavala. I learned that they have 10 hectares of land dedicated to growing kiwis. Each season, they produce anywhere from 9000 to 12000 tons of kiwis. The usual harvesting season starts October to November, and the COOP then sends the kiwis out from October to March. Sadly, because of the timing of the season, I did not get to see any fresh kiwis. However, I visited the kiwi fields and saw the kiwi trees starting to flower.
There, I learned that male kiwi trees only produce flowers for nectar. Honeybees then pollinate female trees with the male nectar! Thus, only female kiwi trees produce the kiwifruit. However, you need both for kiwis to grow!
Once workers hand-harvest these kiwis, they send the kiwis to the processing facility for calibration and storage. After the harvest, the Kavala COOP sends the kiwis out to various parts of the world including other European countries, India, Canada, and the United States.
How do you enjoy kiwis?
Like most fruit, green kiwis are delicious cold and on its own! I like to chill it in the fridge, cut it in half and eat it with a spoon. However, for some, it may be a little sour, so they like to pair it with other ingredients. They are great in salads, yogurts, fruit tarts, smoothies, and more. I like it as a topping with Greek yogurt and drizzled with a bit of sweet honey to balance out the tart taste.
What’s your favorite way to enjoy green kiwis? Let me know in the comments or send me a message on my Instagram @chatwithcat!