Kiwifruit Season Is Upon Us!
Kiwifruit Season Is Here!
New Zealand’s autumn marks the start of a new kiwifruit harvest and processing season, so as you might have guessed, we’re gearing up for production! The next few months will be busy, but we're looking forward to the challenge and the opportunity to showcase the exceptional quality of our kiwifruit purées. In this edition of our newsletter, we're delighted to share updates on our team, our processes, and the incredible nutritional benefits of the kiwifruit varieties we work with. So, without further ado, let's dive into the latest news from KPC!
Green, Gold, and Red: Tasting our Kiwifruit Trio
No matter which variety you choose, kiwifruit offer a nutritional boost and a delightful taste experience. Here’s a quick guide to what makes them so good!
Green Kiwifruit
Our best-known kiwifruit, the green variety has bright green flesh speckled with small black seeds. It has a sweet-tart flavour, with a tangy undertone. They’re a genuine nutritional powerhouse – think vitamin C, as well as fibre, folate, and potassium. Green kiwifruit are a versatile ingredient too - suitable for scooping fresh, and blending into smoothies.
Gold Kiwifruit
Our gold variety has a smooth, hairless skin and a vibrant yellow-gold flesh. Gold kiwifruit has a sweeter, almost tropical flavour profile, with notes of pineapple and mango. They contain high levels of vitamin C and antioxidants, and make wonderful snacks, salad toppers, and additions to fruit salads.
Red Kiwifruit
The new kid on the block! This little beauty has a striking crimson-coloured flesh. Red kiwifruit offer a unique flavour, combining the sweetness of a mango with a ‘berry’ twist. Nutrition? They’re high in vitamins C and E. Add it to juices, desserts, and even savoury recipes.
Rachael is our new QA Champion!
We’re thrilled to announce the appointment of Rachael Jeffrey as our new Quality Manager. Rachael brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this role, having dedicated 12 years of her career to our company. (She knows KPC inside out!)
Rachael first joined Kiwifruitz as the Seed Extraction Manager, where she played a pivotal role in our operations. During her tenure, Rachael also became a shareholder, showcasing her dedication and investment in the company's success.
Rachael has transitioned into the role of Quality Manager, bringing her extensive background in seed extraction and her unwavering commitment to excellence. In this new position, Rachael will be responsible for ensuring the highest standards are maintained throughout our organisation – something we are always looking to develop and improve.
Rachael's expertise and passion for all things quality will be invaluable in driving Kiwifruitz forward for years to come.
100% Natural – Why We Don't Pasteurise!
As a dedicated kiwifruit processor, KPC is a genuine innovator in purée production, utilising modern equipment and unique cold production techniques with stringent quality control. Our specialised systems allow efficient processing, including blast freezing for optimal freshness, colour, and nutrient preservation - a distinct advantage over pasteurised purée which often loses these qualities!
FACT 1
Our factory only processes Kiwifruit – nothing else. No meat, fish, or nuts – these products present the most risk and where most of the harmful bacteria can be found.
FACT 2
Kiwifruit Purée has a pH range of 3 to 3.8 of which all the following harmful bacteria (such as Clostridium perfringens, Campylobacter, Clostridium, Listeria) can't live or reproduce -
FACT 3
Kiwifruit is handpicked from the vine. Kiwifruit does not touch the ground nor is it from a soil base. The Kiwifruit is washed prior to production.
FACT 4
The majority of bacteria need oxygen. All our products have most of the air removed prior to sealing and then frozen.
FACT 5
Time, Temperature and pH is on our side. As our product is blast frozen and stored frozen for a minimum of 7 days before export, low pH and most of the air removed, MOST harmful bacteria struggles to survive.
FACT 6
It is a lost opportunity not to consider all the good nutrients in our unpasteurised frozen kiwifruit purée prior to any further processing.
Need a Refreshing Superfruit Blast?
For a quick and nutritious breakfast or snack, try this super-yummy smoothie:
2 Weetbix or rolled oats
1/3 cup of kiwifruit purée or 2 whole kiwifruits
1/2 banana
2 tbsp yogurt
Handful of berries
1/2 cup milk of choice or coconut water
Enjoy!
KPC on Tour!
In the New Year we had an extremely productive tour of Asia – catching up with long-term our agents, clients, and new prospective customers. We visited China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and Hong Kong, and had a fantastic response from everyone we met.
