Kiwi Cravings: Fun Facts About Kiwi Fruits & a Delicious Kiwi Recipe

The interesting story behind the "kiwi" we eat today is actually a masterclass in global rebranding. Despite its strong association with New Zealand, the fruit is originally from China, where it was known for centuries as (sunny peach) or mihoutao (macaque fruit), because monkeys loved its sweetness . The Journey to New Zealand

Their first attempt at a new name, melonette , was rejected because melons were subject to much higher import tariffs than other berries.

Jack Turner suggested kiwifruit , named after New Zealand’s fuzzy, brown, flightless national bird, which the fruit’s exterior resembled.

During the Cold War, New Zealand exporters like Turners & Growers found it difficult to sell "Chinese" gooseberries in the U.S..