INTRODUCTION

We would like to introduce you to the unique qualities of our EXTRA SWEET Country Kiwifruit.

Beneath its brown, furry skin is an emerald green fruit with small black edible seeds & a very special taste (most agree that it has a strawberry/pineapple/melon flavor).

This remarkable fruit is unusually high in fiber, ascorbic acid (about twice that in oranges) & potassium (nearly as much as a banana) & is very low in calories. It is sodium & cholesterol free, and contains an enzyme which is a natural digestive aid.

Technically, there is no such thing as a vine-ripened kiwifruit. They are harvested in the fall when their sugar is high but they are still very firm. Any fruit left on the vine to ripen naturally would generally be damaged by frost long before they became ripe.

As harvest time nears, kiwis are checked daily for their sugar content by using a device called a hygrometer. This assures that our kiwis are harvested when they reach their peak for combined sweetness & storage qualities. Fruit that will be packed & shipped is picked at a hygrometer reading of approximately 7. However, fruit that we sell at the ranch is left on the vine until it reaches a sugar reading of around 12. This is about as close to vine-ripened as we can get. The end result is a fruit that is extra-sweet when ripened, but also maintains most of its storage qualities. It may not keep quite as long as the fruit picked at a #7 sugar, but our customers think that the extra sweetness & flavor is worth it. And, we do have a few die-hard kiwi lovers that always buy in quantity & manage to store their kiwis for 9-12 months.


HOW TO STORE UNRIPE FRUIT

Unripened fruit will deep for 3-6 months if stored in a single layer in an airtight plastic bag. Fruit should be kept in cool (but not freezing) temperatures. Close proximity to other fruit or exposure to auto emissions will cause fruit to ripen. Store only fruit with skin that is free of cuts, scrapes, or bruising & check the bags every week or 2 for any fruit that is starting to ripen.


HOW TO RIPEN KIWIFRUIT

Put a few kiwifruit in a closed plastic bag with an apple or banana & keep at room temperature. Fruit should ripen in 3 to 10 days.


HOW TO STORE RIPE KIWIFRUIT

When the kiwis are ripe, remove the apple/banana & place the plastic bag in the bottom of the vegetable bin, away from other fruit. Ripened fruit will keep for several weeks.


HOW TO TELL WHEN A KIWIFRUIT IS RIPE

Using your thumb or index finger, put gentle pressure on the top (stem end) or bottom (blossom end) of the kiwifruit. Firm-ripe fruit is tart-sweet and is generally used in salads or with meats. Soft-ripe fruit is much sweeter & more flavorful. It is best for eating out-of-hand, in fruit salads, or in recipes where sweetness is desired. (You may have to experiment a little to find your preferred stage of ripeness.) Overripe or bruised kiwifruit feels mushy & will sometimes have a slightly fermented smell. The color changes, it becomes translucent, & the flavor deteriorates. Bruised fruit can sometimes be salvaged by cutting away the darker bruised spots, but overripe fruit should be discarded. NOTE If you like most fruits but don't care for kiwifruit, chances are, you have tasted fruit that wasn't ripened properly or was served over- or under-ripe. Please give the fruit another try.


HOW TO EAT AND USE KIWIFRUIT

Kiwifruit may be eaten fresh (just cut in half & scoop out the insides with a spoon), or used in any recipe in place of strawberries (except Jello), including jam, jelly, pies, & delicious kiwi shortcake. It is also excellent dried, canned, or frozen. Excellent as a meat tenderizer


NUTRITION FACTS

Serving Size (2 medium) 140 grams
Calories 90
Protein 2 grams
Carbohydrate 18 grams
Fat 1 gram
Cholesterol** 0 mg
Sodium 0 mg
Potassium 140 mg
PERCENTAGES OF U.S. RDA Protein 2
Vitamin A 2
Ascorbic Acid 230
Thiamin (Vit. B1) *
Riboflavin (Vit.B2) 2
Niacin 2
Calcium 4
Iron 4
Vitamin E 10
Vitamin B6 4
Folic Acid 8
Phosphorus 2
Magnesium 6
Copper 8
Pantothenic Acid 2
Crude Fiber 2500 mg
*Contains less than 2% of the U.S. RDA of this nutrient.
**Information on cholestrol content is provided for individuals who, on the advice of a physician, are modifying their total dietary intake of cholesterol.

Check at a later date for more information on the following subjects.
Juice drying jam, jelly Tenderizer Kids & kiwifruit

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